Visa Partners with BVNK to Bring Stablecoin Payments to Visa Direct

Visa has tapped BVNK to power stablecoin payments across the Visa Direct network adding to its broader push to integrate digital assets into global payments infrastructure.

Exciting news: we're powering stablecoin payments for @Visa Direct

Starting this year with pilot programs, BVNK will provide stablecoin infrastructure for @VISADIRECT's $1.7 trillion real-time payments network, enabling faster, more flexible global money movement. pic.twitter.com/0SxgIRrhof

— BVNK (@BVNKFinance) January 14, 2026

The partnership will allow Visa Direct customers to unlock new options for cross-border payments by using stablecoins alongside traditional fiat rails and expanding flexibility for businesses and end users alike.

Expanding Visa Direct with Stablecoins

Visa Direct is a real-time money network that processes around $1.7 trillion in volume annually allowing payouts to cards, bank accounts and digital wallets.

Under the new partnership BVNK will provide the stablecoin infrastructure that allows some business customers to pre-fund Visa Direct payouts using stablecoins rather than relying solely on fiat currencies.

The integration will also support payouts to end recipients directly in stablecoins placing digital dollars into users’ wallets. This opens the door to faster settlement 24/7 availability and reduced reliance on traditional banking hours especially for cross-border and treasury use cases.

BVNK said it processes more than $30 billion in stablecoin payments annually and will initially support Visa Direct’s stablecoin services in approved markets with strong demand for digital asset-based payments.

Building on an Existing Relationship

The announcement represents the next phase of a deepening relationship between Visa and BVNK. Visa Ventures invested in BVNK in May 2025.

The firm said the partnership is part of Visa’s broader strategy to explore how stablecoins can modernise money movement complementing existing rails rather than replacing them.

Stablecoins as a Payments Infrastructure Layer

Mark Nelsen, Global Head of Product for Commercial and Money Movement Solutions at Visa, said stablecoins present an opportunity to reduce friction in global payments and expand access to faster and more efficient settlement.

He highlights their usefulness during weekends, holidays and periods when traditional banks are closed, positioning stablecoins as a practical enhancement to existing payment networks.

BVNK chief executive Jesse Hemson-Struthers describes stablecoins not just as a new payment method but as a foundational layer of modern payments infrastructure.

By integrating stablecoins directly into Visa’s network the partnership aims to give businesses and consumers more control over how and when funds are sent and received.

Phased Rollout and Global Ambitions

The rollout will begin in select markets where demand for digital asset payments is already strong, with plans to expand more broadly based on customer needs and regulatory considerations.

For businesses the integration promises greater choice in treasury management, cross-border payouts and liquidity options, while maintaining the reliability and trust associated with Visa’s global network.