Visa Goes All-In: Turbocharges Digital Payments with Expanded Stablecoin Integration

Visa just dropped a bombshell on traditional finance—again. The payments giant is doubling down on crypto infrastructure by rolling out native stablecoin settlement capabilities across its network. No more clunky fiat conversions or bank-mediated delays.

Why this matters

This isn't just about accepting USDC payments. Visa's building rails for instant, borderless settlements that bypass legacy systems entirely. Merchants get paid in stablecoins. Liquidity providers earn yield. Banks? They're left holding outdated SWIFT manuals.

The fine print

Insiders whisper the system will initially support Ethereum and Solana-based stablecoins, with more chains coming Q1 2026. Transaction fees reportedly undercut traditional cross-border payments by 60-80%—though Visa still takes its customary vig, naturally.

Bottom line

Another brick in the wall of the old financial system crumbles. TradFi dinosaurs can either adapt or watch their lunch get eaten by code. (But hey—at least they'll have those sweet, sweet FDIC insurance premiums to cry into.)

TLDR

• Visa added support for PayPal USD (PYUSD), Global Dollar (USDG), and Euro Coin (EURC) to its settlement platform
• The payment giant now supports Avalanche and Stellar blockchain networks alongside existing Ethereum and Solana support
• Users can send and receive stablecoin payments or convert balances to traditional fiat currency through these networks
• The expansion comes after the U.S. passed the GENIUS Act, creating the first federal regulatory framework for stablecoins
• Major competitors including Mastercard, Amazon, Walmart, and JPMorgan are exploring stablecoin services

Visa announced Thursday it will expand its stablecoin settlement capabilities by adding support for three digital tokens and two blockchain networks. The payment company’s infrastructure now supports PayPal’s PYUSD, Paxos-issued USDG, and Circle’s EURC tokens.

Today, @Visa announced support for Paxos‑issued USDG and PYUSD in its stablecoin settlement offering.

Honored to join forces with one of the world's leading payment innovators to shape the future of financial rails. pic.twitter.com/e3ReplVN0K

— Paxos (@Paxos) July 31, 2025

The integration allows users to send and receive stablecoin payments through supported blockchain networks. Users can also convert their balances to traditional fiat currency through Visa’s platform.

Visa clients can now access these stablecoin services via Avalanche and Stellar networks. Previously, the company’s stablecoin services were limited to Ethereum and Solana blockchains.

Avalanche operates behind AVAX, currently the 22nd largest digital asset by market cap. Stellar’s native token XLM ranks as the industry’s 16th biggest cryptocurrency by market value.

The expansion builds on Visa’s existing support for Circle’s USD Coin (USDC). The company first announced USDC support on ethereum in 2021 before gradually expanding its cryptocurrency-related services.

“We believe that when stablecoins are trusted, scalable, and interoperable, they can fundamentally transform how money moves around the world,” said Rubail Birwadker, Visa’s Global Head of Growth Products and Strategic Partnerships. The statement reflects the company’s broader strategy to integrate blockchain technology into traditional payment systems.

Growing Institutional Interest

The announcement follows the recent passage of the GENIUS Act in the United States. President TRUMP signed the legislation into law earlier this month, creating the first comprehensive federal framework for stablecoin issuance and regulation.

The GENIUS Act outlines requirements for stablecoin issuers and sets standards for reserves and audits. The legislation establishes clear rules for how stablecoins can be used and traded across financial markets.

Institutional interest in stablecoins has grown following this regulatory clarity. Tech firms, banks, and major retailers are signaling plans to enter the stablecoin market.

Competitive Landscape

Visa faces increasing competition from financial institutions integrating stablecoin services. Mastercard, Visa’s direct competitor, is collaborating with crypto companies to integrate cryptocurrency payments and has tokenized 30% of its transactions.

Retail giant Walmart and tech company Amazon reportedly explored launching their own stablecoins in June. Both companies conduct international business and would benefit from reduced transaction fees and faster settlement times for cross-border commerce.

Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan has repeatedly mentioned plans to create a stablecoin. JPMorgan recently partnered with Coinbase to allow Chase account holders to convert rewards points to USDC.

The total stablecoin market capitalization has grown to over $256 billion. Onchain stablecoin transaction volume has surpassed that of Visa and Mastercard combined, according to payments infrastructure company Alchemy.