Visa Launches Stablecoin Payouts for Gig Workers & Creators
Visa has launched a stablecoin payouts pilot via Visa Direct to let businesses pay creators, freelancers and gig workers directly in USD-backed stablecoins. The initial rollout with select North American partners lets firms send USDC to digital wallets, bypassing bank delays and cutting cross-border times to minutes.
Visa plans expansion into Europe and a wider 2026 launch as demand and regulation evolve. Building on its September cross-border settlement trial, the stablecoin payouts program will also support Euro Coin (EURC) and PayPal USD (PYUSD). Payouts are funded in fiat then converted on delivery, with transactions recorded on public blockchains for transparency. According to Visa’s Chris Newkirk, this “enables universal access to money in minutes, not days.” The Monetized: 2025 Creator Economy Report finds 57% of creators prioritize fast, secure digital payments. Visa’s stablecoin payouts pilot aims to streamline global payments and reinforce blockchain as an alternative to traditional banking rails.
Neutral
Visa’s stablecoin payouts pilot boosts on-chain transaction volume and utility for USDC and supported tokens. In the short term, this may drive higher stablecoin usage but will not affect price, as stablecoins are pegged assets. Long term, wider adoption could increase overall circulation, yet the peg mechanism keeps market value stable, resulting in a neutral impact on price.