Visa Dives into Latin America’s Crypto Boom—Stablecoin Payments Go Live

Visa just flipped the switch on stablecoin settlements across Latin America—because nothing says ’financial inclusion’ like dollar-pegged blockchain rails.

The move targets merchants and fintechs drowning in cross-border friction, offering a slick workaround to SWIFT’s Jurassic-era delays. USDC and PayPal’s PYUSD get first-mover privileges.

Fun twist: This rollout conveniently ignores that Latin America’s real crypto action happens in Bitcoin P2P markets—not corporate stablecoins. But hey, at least Visa’s shareholders get a Web3 talking point for earnings calls.

Visa & Bridge Announced New Stablecoin-Linked Card Coming to Latin America

There is no denying that payment companies like Visa have attempted to stay at the forefront of the digital revolution. Earlier this year, the company was in talks with OpenAI founder Sam Altman about launching a crypto stablecoin wallet. Indeed, it builds upon the payment tech firm’s interest in growing the reach of the digital asset.

That continued on Wednesday, as the firm unveiled a groundbreaking new crypto product. Specifically, Visa has launched crypto stablecoin payments in Latin America through a newly issued card coming to the region. Indeed, its presence should provide a jolt in the adoption and utilization of the asset class.

The card will allow holders to make everyday purchases from a stablecoin balance. Moreover, it will be accepted at any vendor or merchant that accepts Visa payment offerings. “We’re focused on integrating stablecoins into Visa’s existing networks and products in a frictionless and secure way,” chief product and strategy officer Jack Forestell said.

“Partnering with Bridge represents a significant move in helping make stablecoins usable in everyday life, giving consumers more choice in how they manage and spend the money,” he added. The new card will be available for us in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Chile. That is just the start, as they are planning an expansion of their use to Europe, Africa, and Asia in a matter of months.