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Visa teams up with BVNK to launch stablecoin payouts
The new feature lets companies send money to digital wallets instantly, even outside banking hours.
Updated Jan 14, 2026, 1:24 p.m. Published Jan 14, 2026, 8:06 a.m.
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What to know:
- Visa will enable stablecoin funding and payouts through Visa Direct, starting in select global markets.
- BVNK, which handles $30 billion in stablecoin payments annually, will provide the underlying infrastructure.
- The move follows investments from Visa and Citigroup and signals rising confidence in stablecoin payments.
Visa is integrating stablecoin infrastructure from BVNK into its Visa Direct platform, expanding how its $1.7 trillion real-time payments network can move money globally.
The partnership, announced Wednesday, allows businesses in select markets to pre-fund payments in stablecoins and send payouts directly to recipients’ digital wallets.
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Visa’s Direct network is widely used by businesses and platforms to send fast payments to individuals — think payroll, gig economy wages, or cross-border remittances. By using stablecoins, which are designed to maintain a fixed value and settle instantly, Visa aims to offer faster access to funds, especially outside of banking hours.
“Stablecoins are an exciting opportunity for global payments, with enormous potential to reduce friction and expand access to faster, more efficient payment options,” said Mark Nelsen, Visa’s global head of product.
BVNK will provide the infrastructure to move and settle these stablecoins. The UK-based firm already processes over $30 billion in stablecoin payments each year.
Visa first invested in BVNK through its venture arm in May 2025. Citigroup followed with a strategic investment five months later. The new deal reflects growing institutional confidence in stablecoin infrastructure as a viable part of the mainstream financial system.
The rollout will begin in markets with high demand for digital asset payments, with wider expansion based on customer appetite, the companies said.
AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.
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