Visa Tests Stablecoin Payouts to Speed Payments for Creators, Gig Workers

Why It Matters

By leveraging stablecoins, Visa could dramatically shorten settlement times for the growing gig economy and expand financial inclusion for users in regions with weak banking infrastructure, positioning the payments giant at the forefront of blockchain‑enabled money movement.

Summary

Visa announced a pilot of its Visa Direct network that lets businesses pay creators, freelancers and gig workers in dollar‑backed stablecoins such as USDC, delivering funds to digital wallets in near‑real time. The service enables payors to fund payouts in fiat while recipients receive stablecoins, bypassing traditional bank‑to‑bank delays and offering cross‑border speed. The trial, unveiled at the Web Summit, follows an earlier September pilot and is slated for a broader 2026 rollout as regulatory conditions mature.