Visa Enables USDC Stablecoin Settlement for U.S. Banks via Solana

Visa is expanding its stablecoin settlement program to the United States, enabling transactions in Circle’s USDC on the Solana blockchain. The move marks a significant step in integrating stablecoins into mainstream payment infrastructure and reflects growing demand from U.S. banking partners.

Under the expansion, Visa’s U.S. acquirer and issuer partners will be able to settle transactions in USDC, beginning with Cross River Bank and Lead Bank. A broader rollout is expected in 2026.

Banks Preparing for Stablecoin-Based Settlement

Visa said the expansion is driven by increasing readiness among financial institutions to adopt stablecoins for real-world payments and settlement.

“Visa is expanding stablecoin settlement because our banking partners are not only asking about it — they’re preparing to use it,” said Rubail Birwadker, Visa’s Global Head of Growth Products and Strategic Partnerships.

By enabling USDC settlement in the U.S., Visa aims to improve treasury efficiency while maintaining the network’s standards for security, compliance, and resilience, Birwadker added.

Faster, Always-On Settlement With USDC

According to Visa, USDC settlement significantly enhances payment efficiency by allowing faster fund movement and expanding settlement availability from the traditional five-day business week to a full seven-day cycle.

The U.S. rollout builds on Visa’s earlier stablecoin initiatives. The payments giant began experimenting with USDC settlements in 2021, formally launching pilot programs internationally in 2023. As of November 30, Visa’s stablecoin settlement activity has surpassed a $3.5 billion annualized run rate.

Growing Demand From Fintech and Crypto Firms

Cross River Bank CEO Gilles Gade highlighted the increasing interest from fintech and crypto companies in integrating stablecoins into existing payment systems.

“A unified platform that natively supports both stablecoins and traditional payment networks is the foundation for how value will move globally,” Gade said.

Broader Stablecoin Strategy Takes Shape

Visa’s U.S. expansion follows the company’s recent launch of a stablecoin advisory practice, designed to help financial institutions and merchants assess and implement stablecoin-based solutions.

The firm has also been broadening its stablecoin footprint globally:

Piloting USDC payments for gig workers
Expanding settlement support to additional blockchains, including Stellar and Avalanche
Collaborating with Circle as an early design partner on Arc, a blockchain focused on stablecoin use cases

Visa said it plans to eventually enable USDC settlement on Arc and operate a validator node on the network.

Shares of Visa Inc. (V) dipped around 0.5% shortly after Tuesday’s opening bell, trading near $345.26. The stock is up approximately 9.2% year-to-date.