Why Visa Picked Nine Chains — Public vs Private Rails Explained

Why It Matters

Visa’s mixed public‑private rail strategy could mainstream stable‑coin payments, boosting crypto liquidity and shaping industry standards.

Key Takeaways

• Visa selected nine blockchain networks: six public, three private.
• Public chains provide global liquidity beyond private networks' limits.
• Private chains (Tempo, Arc, Base) offer speed, low fees, privacy.
• Visa’s mix aims to balance decentralization with transaction efficiency.
• Collaboration between public and private rails expected for stablecoin settlements.

Summary

Visa announced it will route stable‑coin transactions through nine blockchain networks, splitting roughly two‑thirds public, one‑third private.

The public set includes Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, Avalanche, Stellar and Canton, while the private tier comprises Tempo, Arc (USDC‑linked) and Base (Coinbase). Visa highlighted that public chains grant access to worldwide liquidity, whereas private chains deliver faster, cheaper, and confidential processing.

As the speaker noted, "private rails have limited liquidity; to move global volumes you need open decentralized platforms." The blend is intended to capture the speed and low‑cost benefits of private networks while leveraging the deep liquidity pools of public ecosystems.

This hybrid approach signals Visa’s commitment to integrating crypto into mainstream payments, potentially accelerating stable‑coin usage and setting a template for other incumbents navigating the public‑private blockchain divide.