Visa and BVNK Collaboration Opens a New Era of Global Stablecoin Payments

Visa announces a strategic partnership with BVNK, a UK-based stablecoin infrastructure company, to integrate stablecoin payment technology directly into the Visa Direct platform. This move marks a new momentum in the adoption of digital assets by leading global financial institutions.

Evolving Payment Infrastructure: From Traditional Systems to Stablecoins

Visa Direct, a real-time payment network valued at $1.7 trillion, has become the backbone of cross-border fund transfers. However, this traditional system is still hampered by slow processing times and high transaction fees, especially for cross-border payments.

Stablecoins—digital assets designed to maintain a stable value—offer an alternative solution with instant transaction settlement. By leveraging this technology, Visa aims to expand faster and more efficient payment services, especially outside traditional banking hours. Market segments such as employee payroll, gig worker wages, and international remittances will be the first to benefit from the speed of stablecoin payments.

BVNK: A Leader in Stablecoin Infrastructure with a Solid Track Record

BVNK has demonstrated its capability in managing stablecoin payment ecosystems. The company processes over $30 billion in stablecoin transactions annually, making it one of the leading players in the sector. By integrating BVNK’s infrastructure into Visa Direct, this collaboration combines Visa’s global payment network strength with BVNK’s technical expertise in stablecoin management.

“Stablecoins present an exciting opportunity for global payments, with significant potential to reduce barriers and expand access to faster and more efficient payment options,” said Mark Nelsen, Visa’s Global Product Head, highlighting the company’s long-term vision.

Gradual Expansion: Starting with High-Demand Markets

The rollout of this partnership will begin in selected markets showing high demand for digital asset payment solutions. Further development will be tailored to customer interests and needs across various regions. This phased strategy ensures the infrastructure is prepared to support upcoming adoption scales.

Institutional Momentum: Big Capital Believes in Stablecoins

This collaboration is supported by a series of strategic investments from global financial institutions. In May 2025, Visa invested in BVNK through its venture capital division. Five months later, Citigroup—one of the world’s largest banks—followed with its own strategic investment. The presence of these two financial giants backing BVNK demonstrates a high level of institutional confidence in the viability of stablecoins as an integral part of the mainstream financial system.

This dual investment is not just a technical validation but also a strong signal that stablecoin infrastructure has moved beyond the experimental phase and entered the institutional endorsement stage.

Long-Term Impact: Transforming the Global Payments Landscape

Integrating stablecoins into Visa Direct opens new possibilities for speed, efficiency, and accessibility in global payments. Businesses working with Visa Direct can now fund payments using stablecoins and send funds directly to recipients’ digital wallets, eliminating intermediaries that previously took days to settle.

This wave of adoption is likely to trigger broader transformations in the fintech and traditional banking industries, pushing other institutions to adapt or fall behind in the digital payments revolution.