Visa Expands Its Crypto Strategy: How the New Stablecoin Advisory Unit Signals the Future of Global Payments
Visa launches a Stablecoin Advisory Practice to help banks, fintechs, and merchants adopt stablecoins for real-world payments. Explore what it means, why now, and how businesses can prepare.
What if the future of payments isn’t about replacing Visa but building on it?
That single question sits at the heart of Visa’s latest move into crypto.
On 15 December 2025, Visa quietly made one of its most strategic blockchain decisions yet: the launch of a Stablecoins Advisory Practice under Visa Consulting & Analytics. This isn’t a pilot. It’s not a press stunt. It’s a clear signal that stablecoins are no longer “experimental crypto tools”, they are becoming core payment infrastructure.
In this blog post, we’ll explore why Visa is moving now, what this advisory unit actually offers, and how businesses can practically benefit from stablecoin adoption using real-world data, examples, and actionable steps.
Introduction: From Crypto Curiosity to Payment Reality
Stablecoins have crossed a critical threshold.
Once used mainly for trading and DeFi, stablecoins now move more money each month than Visa itself. In early 2024, stablecoins surpassed Visa’s monthly transaction volume at $1.4 trillion, and by 30 November 2025, year-to-date stablecoin transactions reached a staggering $29 trillion (Artemis Analytics).
Visa’s response?
Lean in, strategically.
Rather than fighting stablecoins, Visa is positioning itself as the bridge between traditional finance and blockchain-based money.
Helping our clients grow is frankly the reason we exist in stablecoin.
— Carl Rutstein, Head of Visa Consulting & Analytics
Visa’s Stablecoin Advisory Practice: What’s Actually Being Offered?
Visa’s new Stablecoins Advisory Practice is designed for:
Banks
Fintech startups
Merchants
Payment service providers
The goal is simple: help clients decide if, when, and how to use stablecoins effectively.
Core Offerings Explained (With Real Examples)
1.
Stablecoin Training & Market Trend Programs
Visa will educate leadership teams on stablecoins, regulation, and market dynamics.
Real-world example:
A regional European bank unsure about USDC vs. EUR-backed stablecoins can receive structured training on:
Peg mechanics
Liquidity risks
Regulatory treatment under MiCA
2.
Strategy Development & Market Entry Planning
Visa helps businesses determine:
Whether stablecoins make sense
Which markets to enter
Which use cases offer ROI
Example:
A Latin American fintech struggling with high remittance fees uses Visa’s advisory to:
Replace SWIFT-based settlement
Use USDC for cross-border treasury operations
Cut settlement time from 3 days to under 10 minutes
3.
Use-Case Sizing & Go-to-Market Planning
Not every business needs stablecoins. Visa helps size real demand.
Example use cases Visa evaluates:
Payroll in high-inflation countries
Cross-border B2B settlements
Merchant payouts for global platforms
4.
Technology Enablement & Integration
Visa supports the technical layer; wallets, APIs, compliance tooling.
Example:
An e-commerce platform integrates stablecoin payouts:
Customers pay with cards
Merchants receive USDC instantly
Visa handles compliance and rails
This is where Web2 meets Web3 seamlessly.
Why Visa Is Making This Move
Now
Timing matters and Visa’s timing is precise.
1. Stablecoins Are Already Mainstream
$300+ billion stablecoin market cap (CoinMarketCap)
$29 trillion YTD transaction volume
Used daily by millions for payments, not speculation
Stablecoins are no longer a “crypto niche.”
2. Visa Has Been Testing Quietly Since 2023
Visa piloted USDC settlement two years ago and now supports:
130+ stablecoin-linked card programs
Across 40+ countries
This advisory unit formalizes what Visa has already learned.
3. Visa Isn’t Competing, It’s Adding a New Rail
Visa frames stablecoins as:
Another settlement rail not a replacement for cards
Think of stablecoins like:
ACH
SWIFT
RTP
Just faster, programmable, and global.
Visa Direct + Stablecoins: From Pilot to Production
Visa Direct, Visa’s real-time payments platform, is evolving.
What’s Changing?
Qualified businesses can now:
Pre-fund cross-border payments with stablecoins
Send payouts directly to stablecoin wallets
Real-Life Scenario (Step-by-Step)
Global Freelancer Platform
Client pays in USD via card
Platform converts funds to USDC
Freelancer receives USDC instantly
Freelancer cashes out locally or holds dollar exposure
Result:
Faster payouts
Lower FX costs
No correspondent banking delays
Key Takeaways
Benefits
Faster cross-border settlement
Lower transaction and FX costs
24/7 payment availability
Reduced reliance on legacy banking rails
Risks
Regulatory uncertainty in some regions
Stablecoin issuer concentration risk
Wallet security and custody concerns
Real-World Applications
Global payroll
Merchant payouts
Treasury management
Emerging market remittances
Actionable Steps for Businesses Today
If you’re a bank, fintech, or merchant, ask yourself:
Where do we lose time or money in settlement?
Do we operate in high-inflation or cross-border markets?
Could instant dollar settlement improve cash flow?
Practical Next Steps
Audit your payment flows
Identify cross-border bottlenecks
Pilot stablecoin settlement in low-risk corridors
Engage advisory partners early
Future Outlook: What This Means Long-Term
Visa’s move signals a bigger shift.
What We Can Expect
Stablecoins integrated into everyday payments
More card-to-stablecoin hybrid products
Banks adopting stablecoins for treasury ops
Regulatory clarity accelerating adoption
Prediction:
By 2028, stablecoins will be as invisible and essential as card networks are today.
The user won’t know they’re using blockchain.
But Visa will.
Conclusion: Stablecoins Aren’t Replacing Visa, They’re Becoming Visa
Visa’s Stablecoin Advisory Practice is not about hype. It’s about infrastructure.
By guiding businesses through education, strategy, and execution, Visa is positioning itself as the trusted gateway into stablecoin-powered finance.
The question is no longer “Will stablecoins be used?”
It’s “Who will use them wisely?”
If you’re building in fintech, payments, or Web3:
Start learning stablecoin fundamentals today
Identify one real business use case
Prepare for a future where payments settle in minutes, not days
The next era of payments is already here. Are you ready to build on it?
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This article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Always conduct your own research (DYOR) before making any investment decisions.