Visa Pilots Instant USDC Payments via Visa Direct
Visa has launched a pilot program enabling instant USDC payments via Visa Direct. The cross-border payments solution lets businesses send fiat funds while recipients settle USDC payments directly to their wallets, bypassing SWIFT delays and reducing fees.
The program targets creators, freelancers and global marketplaces. Announced at Web Summit 2025, it follows a September SIBOS pilot that pre-funded payouts with stablecoins. Visa processed over $15 trillion in transactions and $140 billion in stablecoin volume since 2020. It has launched 130+ stablecoin-linked card projects across 40 countries.
According to Visa’s 2025 Creator Economy Report, the market will reach $185 billion this year and could exceed $376 billion by 2030, with 57% of digital creators preferring instant settlement. Visa chooses USDC over USDT amid evolving regulations, planning a broader rollout in late 2026. This move signals a shift toward large-scale on-chain payments.
Neutral
This announcement improves USDC’s utility and adoption by integrating instant USDC payments into the Visa Direct network. While it may drive higher transaction volume and broader acceptance, USDC is a stablecoin pegged to USD, so its market price remains anchored at $1. In the short term, traders will see minimal price volatility. Long term, increased on-chain usage and institutional backing could enhance demand for USDC circulation, but price fluctuations are unlikely. Therefore, the overall impact on USDC’s market price is neutral.