Introduction to the Collaboration
Visa has teamed up with BVNK, a UK-based stablecoin infrastructure provider, to pilot new cross-border payment solutions using stablecoins. This collaboration will allow select business clients to pre-fund cross-border payouts in stablecoins and deliver digital US dollars directly to recipient wallets in specific markets.
Expanding Visa’s Stablecoin Strategy
This new partnership builds on Visa’s previous stablecoin initiatives, which included on-chain settlement tests using USDC on blockchain networks like Ethereum and Solana. The collaboration further strengthens Visa’s strategy to integrate tokenized dollars into its payment systems, following its investment in BVNK through Visa Ventures in May 2025.
Additionally, Citi Ventures invested in BVNK in October 2025, highlighting the increasing interest in stablecoin infrastructure from major financial institutions.
BVNK is currently working on pilot programs with a limited number of Visa Direct enterprise clients in high-demand markets. These initial pilots are expected to expand, with future plans to introduce more corridors, currencies, stablecoins, and customer segments, contingent upon regulatory approval.
The Growing Role of Stablecoins in Global Payments
Visa’s executives have highlighted that this move is part of a broader initiative to modernize global payments, allowing transactions to be processed outside of traditional banking hours. Visa sees stablecoins as a promising solution to reduce friction in payments and broaden access to faster, more efficient financial systems.
The growing use of stablecoins is reshaping the cross-border payment landscape, with estimates from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) suggesting stablecoin transaction volumes have reached between $3 trillion and $4 trillion annually.
Despite regulatory challenges, Visa’s partnership with BVNK emphasizes the importance of stablecoins in the future of global payments.
As regulators, including the European Central Bank (ECB), monitor the rise of stablecoins, Visa’s collaboration with BVNK positions the company as a leader in the evolving payments ecosystem. This partnership signals Visa’s ongoing commitment to developing faster, more efficient payment solutions while navigating the evolving regulatory landscape.