USDT: Visa’s Strategic Bridge to the $670 Billion Stablecoin Credit Market

In a groundbreaking move that signals the accelerating convergence of traditional finance and digital assets, Visa has positioned itself as the critical intermediary bridging conventional banking institutions with the massive $670 billion stablecoin credit market. This strategic initiative, announced in October 2025, represents one of the most significant institutional adoptions of blockchain technology to date, with USDT and other major stablecoins at the center of this financial transformation. Visa's comprehensive approach focuses on leveraging its established global infrastructure to serve as both a compliance-friendly data LAYER and custody solution, effectively reducing the technical barriers that have historically prevented widespread bank participation in the onchain finance ecosystem. The company's deep integration capabilities allow traditional financial institutions to tap into the rapidly expanding stablecoin market without needing to develop complex blockchain expertise in-house. This development comes at a pivotal moment when stablecoins, particularly USDT, have demonstrated remarkable growth and stability, evolving from mere trading instruments to fundamental components of global credit markets. Visa's entry into this space not only validates the maturity of stablecoin technology but also signals the beginning of a new era where digital assets become seamlessly integrated into mainstream financial services. The $670 billion market represents just the initial opportunity, with projections suggesting exponential growth as more institutions recognize the efficiency, transparency, and global accessibility benefits of stablecoin-based credit systems. This strategic positioning by Visa could potentially accelerate USDT's adoption across commercial lending, cross-border transactions, and institutional finance, fundamentally reshaping how value is transferred and credit is extended worldwide. The timing of this initiative aligns perfectly with increasing regulatory clarity and growing institutional confidence in blockchain-based financial solutions, setting the stage for unprecedented growth in the stablecoin ecosystem throughout 2026 and beyond.

Visa Bridges Traditional Banking with $670B Stablecoin Credit Market

Visa is positioning itself as a critical intermediary between traditional banks and the rapidly expanding onchain finance ecosystem. Its latest initiative focuses on connecting financial institutions to a $670 billion stablecoin credit market, leveraging its infrastructure to simplify blockchain adoption.

The company's strategy centers on acting as a compliance-friendly data and custody layer, reducing technical barriers for banks entering digital asset markets. This MOVE signals growing institutional recognition of stablecoins' role in modern finance.

Financial institutions stand to gain streamlined access to blockchain-based liquidity while maintaining regulatory safeguards. Visa's involvement could accelerate mainstream adoption of digital assets by providing familiar rails for traditional finance players.

Tether (USDT) Supply Hits Record $181 Billion Amid Stablecoin Market Expansion

Tether's USDT stablecoin has reached a historic circulation of 181.4 billion tokens, with recent minting adding 4.5 billion to meet surging institutional demand. The stablecoin now commands nearly 60% of the sector, dwarfing competitors like Circle's USDC at 24.6% market share.

The broader stablecoin market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with total supply crossing $300 billion in 2025. ethereum hosts 69% of new issuances as transfer volumes hit $15.6 trillion in Q3, cementing stablecoins' role as the backbone of DeFi and global settlements.

Upbit and Bithumb List Four New Altcoins Including ZORA and YieldBasis

South Korea's leading cryptocurrency exchanges, Upbit and Bithumb, have expanded their trading offerings with four new altcoins. ZORA, listed on Upbit, experienced an immediate 17% price surge against KRW, BTC, and USDT pairs. Bithumb's additions—Infinit, Doodles, and YieldBasis—saw more modest gains.

The ZORA ecosystem continues to grow with its Believe Fund allocating 20 million tokens to support creators. Market participants are eyeing the upcoming ZORA token unlock on October 30, which may introduce short-term volatility.

Upbit implemented temporary trading restrictions for ZORA to ensure orderly market conditions. The token's rapid appreciation underscores strong investor interest in creator-focused blockchain platforms.