BVNK to Support Stablecoin Payments in Visa Direct Pilot Programs

Source: CoinEdition Original Title: BVNK to Support Stablecoin Payments in Visa Direct Pilot Programs Original Link:

Key Highlights

• Visa Direct pilots will add stablecoin pre-funding and payouts in approved markets, alongside fiat rails.
• BVNK will supply infrastructure for real-time stablecoin settlement, handling over $30B annually.
• The rollout builds on Visa Ventures’ 2025 stake in BVNK, marking first direct Visa Direct integration.

Partnership Overview

Visa and BVNK have announced a new partnership that will see BVNK provide stablecoin infrastructure for pilot programs on Visa Direct, Visa’s global money movement network with an annualized volume of $1.7 trillion. The initiative focuses on enabling stablecoin-based payouts and funding mechanisms in select markets, expanding the operational scope of Visa Direct beyond traditional fiat settlement.

Under the arrangement, BVNK will support stablecoin pre-funding for Visa Direct, enabling certain business clients to fund payouts using stablecoins in addition to fiat currencies. The setup will also enable end recipients to receive payouts directly in stablecoins, placing digital dollar balances into supported wallets.

According to the companies, the services will be introduced only in approved jurisdictions and will be initially targeted at markets where demand for digital asset-based payments is well-established.

Infrastructure and Scale

BVNK processes over $30 billion in stablecoin transactions annually and will provide the technical infrastructure necessary to support real-time settlement and wallet-based payouts within the Visa Direct framework. The integration is designed to operate alongside existing Visa Direct services rather than replace fiat-based flows.

Expansion of an Existing Relationship

The announcement builds on an earlier relationship between the two firms. Visa’s investment arm, Visa Ventures, took an equity stake in BVNK in May 2025. The current integration represents the first direct deployment of BVNK’s infrastructure within Visa Direct’s payment rails.

Visa stated that the pilot programs are intended to broaden the range of payout options available to business customers, including the ability to process transfers outside standard banking hours. The rollout is expected to expand geographically over time, depending on regulatory approvals and customer demand.

Executive Perspectives

Mark Nelsen, Visa’s global head of product for commercial and money movement solutions, stated that the pilots reflect Visa’s ongoing work to incorporate stablecoin technology into existing payment systems. He noted that the focus is on improving access to faster settlement windows while maintaining established payment experiences.

Jesse Hemson-Struthers said the partnership centers on embedding stablecoin functionality directly into large-scale payment networks. He added that the initial rollout will prioritize specific use cases and markets before expanding to a broader audience.