Visa Partners with BVNK to Bring Stablecoin Payments to Visa Direct - The Traditional Finance Giant Embraces Crypto Rails

Visa just plugged into the future of money. Its partnership with crypto infrastructure firm BVNK injects stablecoin settlement directly into the Visa Direct network—bypassing legacy banking delays and cutting settlement times from days to minutes.

How It Cuts Through the Clutter

Forget slow wire transfers and batch processing. This move threads stablecoin rails—digital currencies pegged to assets like the US dollar—into one of the world's largest payment networks. Merchants and platforms connected to Visa Direct can now receive funds settled in stablecoins, a stark contrast to the archaic multi-day settlement dance of traditional finance. It's a direct shot across the bow of correspondent banking.

The Real-World Shift

This isn't just a tech demo. It means cross-border payouts for gig workers, marketplace seller proceeds, and remittances can land in a digital wallet almost instantly. The infrastructure treats stablecoins as a settlement asset, not just a speculative token—legitimizing their utility right under the nose of skeptical regulators. Of course, the old guard will call it risky right up until their own quarterly reports show they're missing the fee revenue.

Why This Partnership Matters Now

Visa isn't dipping a toe; it's building a bridge. With BVNK handling the crypto compliance and liquidity, Visa can offer a streamlined path for businesses that want faster settlements without managing blockchain complexity themselves. It’s a classic play: provide the rails and collect the tolls, while letting others navigate the regulatory minefields. A cynical take? It's the financial equivalent of a fast-food chain finally adding a plant-based burger—not out of idealism, but because the customer demand became too loud and lucrative to ignore.

The move signals that the biggest players are no longer just watching crypto—they're integrating it. The race to own the pipes of the new financial system is officially on, and the finish line is whoever controls the settlement layer. Slow, expensive, traditional wires just got served notice.

Expanding Visa Direct with Stablecoins

Visa Direct is a real-time money network that processes around $1.7 trillion in volume annually allowing payouts to cards, bank accounts and digital wallets.

Under the new partnership BVNK will provide the stablecoin infrastructure that allows some business customers to pre-fund Visa Direct payouts using stablecoins rather than relying solely on fiat currencies.

The integration will also support payouts to end recipients directly in stablecoins placing digital dollars into users’ wallets. This opens the door to faster settlement 24/7 availability and reduced reliance on traditional banking hours especially for cross-border and treasury use cases.

BVNK said it processes more than $30 billion in stablecoin payments annually and will initially support Visa Direct’s stablecoin services in approved markets with strong demand for digital asset-based payments.

Building on an Existing Relationship

The announcement represents the next phase of a deepening relationship between Visa and BVNK. Visa Ventures invested in BVNK in May 2025.

The firm said the partnership is part of Visa’s broader strategy to explore how stablecoins can modernise money movement complementing existing rails rather than replacing them.

Stablecoins as a Payments Infrastructure Layer

Mark Nelsen, Global Head of Product for Commercial and Money Movement Solutions at Visa, said stablecoins present an opportunity to reduce friction in global payments and expand access to faster and more efficient settlement.

He highlights their usefulness during weekends, holidays and periods when traditional banks are closed, positioning stablecoins as a practical enhancement to existing payment networks.

BVNK chief executive Jesse Hemson-Struthers describes stablecoins not just as a new payment method but as a foundational LAYER of modern payments infrastructure.

By integrating stablecoins directly into Visa’s network the partnership aims to give businesses and consumers more control over how and when funds are sent and received.

Phased Rollout and Global Ambitions

The rollout will begin in select markets where demand for digital asset payments is already strong, with plans to expand more broadly based on customer needs and regulatory considerations.

For businesses the integration promises greater choice in treasury management, cross-border payouts and liquidity options, while maintaining the reliability and trust associated with Visa’s global network.