Visa Aims to Be Universal Stablecoin Gateway for Global Gig Workers

Visa Inc. (V) is expanding its digital payment capabilities with a pilot program enabling businesses to send USD-backed stablecoin payouts directly to recipients' cryptocurrency wallets, a move aimed at accelerating access to funds for global gig workers, creators, and marketplaces, according to a Reuters report. The initiative, announced at Web Summit and the Singapore Fintech Festival, leverages Visa Direct—a real-time payment service operating in 195 countries—to facilitate transactions in stablecoins like USDC, which are pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar, the StockTitan report notes. Recipients can now choose to receive payments in stablecoins, offering faster cross-border transfers and a stable store of value in regions with currency volatility or limited banking infrastructure, a Bloomberg report highlights.

The pilot builds on Visa's broader strategy to integrate stablecoins into its payment ecosystem. Earlier this year, the company partnered with Nium Inc. to test blockchain-based stablecoin settlements, aiming to reduce friction in cross-border transactions by replacing legacy systems with programmable, near-instant transfers, as the Reuters report reported. Visa's head of crypto, Cuy Sheffield, emphasized the potential to "position Visa as the universal acceptance network for stablecoins" by embedding Visa credentials into leading stablecoin wallets, the Reuters report notes. This aligns with growing demand from fintechs and platforms seeking efficient solutions for disbursing earnings to freelancers, influencers, and global workers, the Bloomberg report notes.

The move comes as Visa navigates a historic legal settlement with U.S. merchants over credit-card interchange fees, a dispute spanning two decades. The proposed agreement, expected to lower fees by 0.1 percentage points and grant retailers flexibility to reject high-cost rewards cards, could reshape merchant payment dynamics, the GuruFocus report says. While the settlement's financial impact remains modest compared to typical fee levels, it underscores Visa's strategic pivot toward digital assets and flexible payment solutions to maintain competitiveness, the Proactive Investors report notes.

Visa's stablecoin initiatives also reflect its broader financial health. With a market capitalization of $648.48 billion and robust profitability metrics—including a 66.39% operating margin—the company is well-positioned to invest in emerging technologies, the GuruFocus report notes. Insider selling activity and regulatory scrutiny remain risks, but analysts highlight strong institutional ownership and positive valuation metrics, including a P/E ratio of 32.91, the GuruFocus report says. Meanwhile, Mastercard's parallel efforts, such as a reported $1.5–$2 billion acquisition of cryptocurrency startup Zerohash, signal industry-wide momentum in stablecoin adoption, the Benzinga report reports.

The pilot's phased rollout, with broader access planned for late 2026, hinges on regulatory alignment and partner onboarding, the StockTitan report notes. Visa's collaboration with stablecoin enablers like Bridge and Rain further underscores its commitment to seamless integration with blockchain infrastructure, the Reuters report notes. For now, the program targets markets where fiat-backed digital currencies offer practical advantages, such as Bolivia's inflation-plagued boliviano or regions lacking traditional banking access, the Bloomberg report notes.