USDVisa Expands USDC Settlement to U.S. Banks, Targets 24/7 Payments as Stablecoin Volumes Top $3.5 Billion Annualized
Stablecoins Move From Pilot to Production as Visa Brings USDC Settlement to U.S. Banks on Solana
TL;DR
- Visa has launched USDC settlement for U.S. banks using Solana, with broader rollout planned through 2026.
- Stablecoin settlement volume on Visa’s network has surpassed a $3.5 billion annualized run rate.
- The company also unveiled a global stablecoins advisory practice as institutional demand accelerates.
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Visa has taken a decisive step in embedding stablecoins into mainstream financial infrastructure, announcing the expansion of USDC settlement capabilities to U.S. banks and financial institutions while simultaneously rolling out a global advisory practice focused on stablecoin strategy and integration. The move places blockchain-based settlement firmly inside domestic payment rails for the first time at Visa’s scale, marking a transition from controlled pilots to operational deployment as banks begin using digital dollars to move real value across the network.
The U.S. launch, disclosed on December 16, allows Visa’s issuing and acquiring partners to settle obligations in Circle’s USDC rather than relying exclusively on traditional fiat settlement processes. The system operates on the Solana blockchain, selected for its throughput and low-latency settlement characteristics, and enables around-the-clock settlement, including weekends and holidays. Cross River Bank and Lead Bank are the first institutions live with the service, while Visa plans to expand access to additional U.S. partners throughout 2026.
Settlement speed and liquidity timing sit at the center of the initiative. Traditional card settlement typically follows a multi-day, business-hours-only cycle, often stretching to five days depending on intermediaries and clearing schedules. By contrast, USDC settlement allows banks to reconcile positions continuously, reducing idle capital and improving treasury efficiency. Visa has emphasized that the consumer-facing card experience remains unchanged, insulating end users from the technical shift while modernizing the back-end rails that move money between institutions.
The expansion builds on several years of experimentation. Visa began testing stablecoin settlement in 2021 and moved into early production pilots in 2023, initially outside the U.S. According to the company, stablecoin settlement activity across its network has now reached a $3.5 billion annualized run rate as of Nov. 30, underscoring that usage has moved beyond proof-of-concept. Visa also supports more than 130 stablecoin-linked card programs across over 40 countries, indicating that digital dollars are increasingly embedded in everyday payment products.
Strategically, Visa is positioning stablecoins as infrastructure rather than an edge-case crypto product. Rubail Birwadker, Visa’s global head of growth products and strategic partnerships, has framed the expansion as a response to direct demand from banking partners who are preparing to use stablecoins operationally, not merely explore them. Circle, the issuer of USDC, echoed that sentiment, describing the U.S. rollout as a milestone for moving regulated, internet-native money at software speed while maintaining transparency and trust standards expected by financial institutions.
Technology partnerships underpin the rollout. Visa is a design partner for Circle’s upcoming Layer-1 blockchain, Arc, which is currently in public testnet. The company plans to use Arc for USDC settlement and ultimately operate a validator node once the network goes live, signaling deeper involvement in blockchain infrastructure beyond payments alone. The integration is designed to support commercial-scale throughput and reliability as stablecoin volumes grow.
Banking partners have highlighted practical benefits rather than ideological shifts. Lead Bank has pointed to seven-day settlement as a differentiator for clients that increasingly expect continuous access to funds, while Cross River Bank has emphasized the importance of unifying stablecoins and legacy payment systems under a single operational framework. The messaging reflects a broader industry focus on efficiency, liquidity management, and programmability rather than speculative crypto narratives.
Parallel to the U.S. settlement launch, Visa announced the formation of a global stablecoins advisory practice within Visa Consulting & Analytics on Dec. 15. The advisory unit is designed to help banks, credit unions, fintech firms, merchants, and enterprises evaluate stablecoin use cases, assess risk, design implementation strategies, and plan go-to-market execution. Visa disclosed that more than 20 institutions had already engaged with the advisory group prior to its public launch, including Navy Federal Credit Union, VyStar Credit Union, and Pathward, highlighting early institutional appetite for structured guidance rather than ad hoc experimentation.
The advisory initiative reinforces Visa’s view that stablecoins are moving into the core of financial services as regulatory clarity improves and infrastructure matures. Company leadership has consistently cited token-based settlement, stablecoin-linked cards, and direct wallet payouts as central elements of its long-term payments roadmap. Market reaction reflected that narrative, with Circle’s shares rising sharply following the announcement, while Visa’s own stock saw more muted movement as investors weighed innovation against ongoing pressures on traditional card economics.
This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.
