Visa Direct Stablecoin Payouts Pilot Speeds Up Access to Funds for Creators & Gig Workers

At Web Summit today, Visa Inc. (V) announced a breakthrough pilot allowing businesses and platforms to send payouts directly to recipients’ stablecoin wallets. For businesses using Visa Direct, payouts can be funded in fiat currency, while recipients can choose to receive their funds in USD-backed stablecoins like USDC, transforming the speed and accessibility of global payouts. This innovation expands the reach of Visa Direct by providing creators, freelancers, and marketplaces with a stable store of value and faster access to funds - even in markets facing currency volatility or limited banking infrastructure.

“Launching stablecoin payouts is about enabling truly universal access to money in minutes - not days - for anyone, anywhere in the world,” said Chris Newkirk, President, Commercial & Money Movement Solutions, Visa. “Whether it’s a creator building a digital brand, a business reaching new global markets or a freelancer working across borders, everyone benefits from faster, more flexible money movement.”

According to new research from Monetized: Visa 2025Creator Economy Report, faster access to funds is ranked as the top reason digital content creators prefer using digital payment methods. Fifty-seven percent (57%) cited instant access as their leading motivation for choosing digital payment methods to get paid for content creation work.

This latest pilot advances Visa’s innovation in stablecoin-powered payments. At SIBOS in September, Visa Direct announced a pilot program enabling businesses to pre-fund payouts using stablecoins, together, these pilots unlock access and greater financial flexibility for Visa’s clients and for millions of consumers around the world.

Visa Direct Stablecoin Payout Highlights:

• Continuous convenience: Consumers, creators and freelancers will be able to access payouts in stablecoins with near-instant speed.
• Borderless currency for the digital age: Stablecoins can unlock access for those in underbanked regions, or where USD bank accounts are not available.
• Increased transparency: Every transaction is permanently logged on the blockchain, supporting auditability, compliance, and receipt confirmation.
• Expanding access: The pilot launches with select partners, with broader rollout planned for the second half of 2026 as client demand grows and regulatory frameworks advance.

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