Visa has taken a major step toward reshaping institutional payments by enabling stablecoin settlement in the United States using USDC. The move allows US banks to settle obligations with Visa using blockchain rails, while consumers continue using cards without changes. Hence, the initiative signals a deeper shift in how large payment networks approach speed, liquidity, and operational flexibility. With this expansion, Visa strengthens its effort to modernize settlement infrastructure supporting global commerce. Besides improving settlement speed, the rollout responds to rising demand from banks exploring programmable money and continuous operations. Visa confirmed that US issuer and acquirer partners can now settle transactions using Circle’s dollar-backed USDC. Consequently, institutions gain access to seven-day settlement cycles, including weekends and holidays, without disrupting existing card workflows. USDC Settlement Moves Onto Solana Visa selected the Solana blockchain to support its USDC settlement in the United States. The network offers fast transaction finality and high throughput, which supports institutional settlement volumes. Additionally, Cross River Bank and Lead Bank have already begun settling with Visa using USDC on Solana. Visa plans broader availability for US institutions through 2026. Significantly, Visa reported that its stablecoin settlement activity reached a $3.5 billion annualized run rate by late November. That growth reflects steady expansion across Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and CEMEA regions. Moreover, Visa has continued adding blockchain options to give partners more settlement flexibility. Banks Seek Speed and Treasury Precision Visa executives stressed that banking partners want real-world utility, not experiments. Rubail Birwadker said, “Visa is expanding stablecoin settlement because our banking partners are not only asking about it - they’re preparing to use it.” He added, “Financial institutions are looking for faster, programmable settlement options that integrate seamlessly with their existing treasury operations.” He also stated that Visa delivers “a reliable, bank-ready capability that improves treasury efficiency while maintaining the security, compliance and resiliency standards our network requires.” Additionally, seven-day settlement windows improve liquidity planning for banks and fintech firms. Hence, treasury teams can automate funding flows and reduce delays tied to traditional business-day schedules. Looking Beyond Today’s Rails Visa also deepened its partnership with Circle by supporting Arc, a new Layer 1 blockchain in public testnet. The network aims to support large-scale commercial activity. Moreover, Visa plans to operate a validator and use Arc for future USDC settlement.
