Visa and Circle Launch Pilot to Revolutionize Cross-Border Payments with Stable coins
In a groundbreaking move to modernize international money transfers, Visa has launched a pilot program using Circle’s USDC and EURC stablecoins to boost cross-border payments. Announced at SIBOS 2025, this initiative aims to make global transactions faster, more flexible, and more cost-effective for banks, remittance providers, and businesses.
Traditionally, cross-border payments require holding large sums of fiat currency in multiple markets, which ties up working capital and exposes companies to currency volatility. Visa’s new approach lets financial institutions pre-fund payments with stablecoins—digital currencies pegged to the US dollar and Euro—treating them as cash equivalents for real-time payouts through the Visa Direct platform.
Stable coins enable near-instant, around-the-clock payments, bypassing delays common in traditional banking—especially during off-hours or weekends.
Companies can reduce capital lockups by using stablecoins instead of maintaining pre-funded fiat accounts in multiple countries.
By using USDC and EURC tied to major currencies, businesses mitigate exposure to exchange rate fluctuations.
The pilot supports a more agile treasury management, adapting funding needs dynamically rather than allocating large sums in advance.
Visa has already processed over $225 million in stablecoin payments through this pilot, signaling strong potential for broader adoption. While currently limited to select partners meeting Visa’s criteria, the company plans to expand the program in 2026.
Chris Newkirk, Visa’s President of Commercial and Money Movement Solutions, said, “Cross-border payments have been stuck in outdated systems for far too long. This integration lays the groundwork for money to move instantly across the world, giving businesses more choice in how they pay.”
With traditional payment systems often inactive during weekends and holidays, this stablecoin pilot addresses a critical pain point, enabling uninterrupted global fund transfers and smoother financial operations.
Visa’s collaboration with Circle marks a pivotal step toward leveraging blockchain technology to overhaul a $16 trillion annual payments market. By bridging the gap between traditional finance and crypto innovation, this pilot could redefine the future of cross-border commerce, making international payments as seamless as domestic ones.