#StablecoinPayments

Visa has been actively exploring the use of stablecoins for payments, recognizing their potential to bridge the gap between digital and traditional fiat currencies. Here are some key developments:

- *USD Coin (USDC) Settlement*: Visa became the first major payments network to settle transactions in USDC, a stablecoin backed by the US dollar, on the Ethereum blockchain. This capability was piloted with (link unavailable), a Visa partner, and aims to provide a more efficient and cost-effective way for businesses to manage their treasury and settlement workflows.

- *Stablecoin-Linked Cards*: Visa has partnered with Bridge, a stablecoin orchestration platform owned by Stripe, to launch a new card-issuing product. This product allows fintech developers to offer stablecoin-linked Visa cards to their customers in multiple countries, enabling everyday purchases at merchants that accept Visa.

- *Global Expansion*: The stablecoin-linked card product is initially available in countries such as Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Chile, with plans to expand to Europe, Africa, and Asia in the coming months.

- *Partnerships*: Visa has also partnered with other companies, including Mastercard, OK X, and Nuvei, to further its efforts in powering stablecoin transactions for consumers and merchants.

The integration of stablecoins into mainstream finance has the potential to:

- *Increase Efficiency*: Streamline transactions and reduce costs for businesses and individuals.

- *Enhance Security*: Provide a secure and transparent payment system.

- *Expand Financial Inclusion*: Enable access to financial services for underserved populations.

Overall, Visa's initiatives in stablecoin payments aim to make it easier for individuals and businesses to use stablecoins for everyday transactions, while also exploring new use cases and applications for this technology.