Visa has announced the launch of its global Visa Tokenized Asset Platform (VTAP) in 2025, which will allow banks to issue fiat-backed tokens, including stablecoins, and manage digital transactions more efficiently. The VTAP will enable banks to mint, burn, and transfer stablecoins and other fiat-backed tokens as part of their digital operations.
Visa has confirmed that the platform is currently in the testing phase, with live operations expected to begin in 2025. As part of its development, VTAP is currently undergoing tests and preparing for its first live pilot, which is expected to run on the Ethereum blockchain in 2025. The pilot will involve select financial institutions, testing the issuance and transfer of tokens on a real-world scale. Initially, VTAP will serve internal banking operations, but Visa plans to allow interoperability between institutions using the platform in the future.
BBVA to Issue First Stablecoin Through Visa’s VTAP
One of the first institutions testing Visa’s VTAP is the Spanish bank BBVA, which has been collaborating with Visa throughout 2024. BBVA is exploring how VTAP can be used to issue stablecoins and other fiat-backed tokens. The bank, active in the digital asset space since 2014, has been offering cryptocurrency trading and custody services for institutional clients.
BBVA’s stablecoin, expected to be backed by either the euro or U.S. dollar, will initially be used for internal transactions. However, the bank envisions expanding its usage for external clients as the technology matures. BBVA believes blockchain has the potential to transform digital transactions and improve the efficiency of financial systems.
"We realized that blockchain could transform the way we exchange value digitally, and consequently affect the way the financial system works," said BBVA head of digital assets and blockchain Francisco Maroto.
Title: "Visa to Launch Global Visa Tokenized Asset Platform (VTAP) for Banks to Issue Fiat-Backed Tokens in 2025"
