Visa stablecoins advisory targets banks, fintechs and global merchants

Visa is expanding its role in digital assets with a new focus on stablecoins that targets banks, fintechs and enterprise clients worldwide.

Visa launches global advisory for stablecoin adoption

Payments giant Visa has unveiled a dedicated Stablecoins Advisory Practice, designed to support banks, FinTechs, merchants and businesses of all sizes as they explore and implement stablecoin solutions.

The new global practice operates as a value-added service within Visa Consulting and Analytics (VCA). It delivers actionable insights and recommendations to help clients assess market fit, define strategy and manage implementation of stablecoin technology, according to a press release issued on Monday.

Moreover, the initiative aims to give institutions a structured framework to evaluate opportunities and risks tied to tokenized money and on-chain payments, while keeping pace with evolving regulation and competition.

Training, strategy and technology enablement

Visa said the advisory offering spans several pillars. These include stablecoin training programs and market trend briefings, anchored by a new course at Visa University. The training is intended for executives and product teams seeking a deeper understanding of digital money and blockchain-based settlement.

Beyond education, the practice supports stablecoin strategy development and stablecoin market entry planning. That means helping clients identify priority use cases, define business models and shape risk, compliance and treasury frameworks before launching products.

In addition, VCA consultants assist with use case sizing and go-to-market planning. They also focus on stablecoin technology enablement and broader stablecoin integration services, guiding companies as they connect existing payment infrastructure to on-chain rails.

Visa stablecoins advisory practice already active

The company said its stablecoins advisory practice has already been operating for several months. During this initial phase, Visa completed more than 20 advisory engagements with clients across multiple regions, highlighting early demand for structured guidance around tokenized payments.

“Having a comprehensive stablecoins strategy is critical in today’s digital landscape,” the release quoted the global head of Visa Consulting and Analytics as saying. However, many organizations still lack in-house expertise on blockchain-based money, so they are turning to external specialists.

According to the executive, clients approach VCA because they trust Visa’s track record in navigating shifts within payments and adjacent industries. That said, the firm is positioning itself as a neutral advisor, helping institutions evaluate both opportunities and operational challenges.

Credit unions explore member-facing use cases

Early customers of the advisory service include U.S. credit unions that are exploring how tokenized settlement could benefit their members. One vice president of payment products at VyStar Credit Union said VCA provided practical insights and tailored recommendations.

The executive noted that the work with Visa helped VyStar deepen its understanding of the current stablecoin landscape and the potential relevance of on-chain payments for its customer base. Moreover, those insights are informing internal discussions on future product design and risk management.

Similarly, a senior vice president at Navy Federal Credit Union said stablecoins may offer a way to enhance speed and lower cost in payments. With Visa’s support, Navy Federal is now evaluating how the technology could fit into its broader strategy for delivering value to roughly 15 million members worldwide.

Stablecoins on Visa’s long-term roadmap

Visa’s long-term view on digital assets has been clarified by its CEO in an annual letter to shareholders. In that letter, the chief executive described stablecoins as next-generation settlement infrastructure that could reshape how value moves across borders.

As part of its roadmap, Visa is working on stablecoin-linked cards and settlement capabilities for tokens such as USDC. The firm is also exploring stablecoin prefunding for cross-border payouts and pilots that deliver payouts directly to compatible wallets, reflecting a shift toward programmable, always-on money.

However, the company still emphasizes compliance, security and risk controls as adoption grows, especially as regulators sharpen their focus on digital currency frameworks globally.

Cybersecurity advisory expands Visa’s consulting suite

In a separate addition to its consulting portfolio, Visa recently launched a Visa Cybersecurity Advisory Practice. This unit taps into Visa Consulting and Analytics’ network of consultants, data scientists and product experts around the world to help clients strengthen defenses against fraud and cyber threats.

Together, the cybersecurity advisory and the new stablecoin-focused practice signal that Visa aims to be a strategic partner on both innovation and risk management for financial institutions navigating the digital transition in 2024 and beyond.

Overall, the launch of the Stablecoins Advisory Practice, paired with a clear roadmap for using Visa stablecoins in settlement and cards, underlines Visa’s intention to remain at the center of next-generation payment infrastructure.