Visa Launches Stablecoin Advisory to Guide Banks on Crypto

• Visa launches Stablecoins Advisory Practice to guide banks and fintechs on strategy.
• Initiative helps clients assess benefits, risks, and regulatory aspects of stablecoins.
• Visa leverages $3.5B annual stablecoin volume to advise on practical deployment.

Visa has taken a more formal step toward stablecoin adoption by launching a Visa stablecoins advisory practice for financial institutions. The payments giant said the new Stablecoins Advisory Practice will guide banks, fintechs, merchants, and businesses on stablecoin strategy and deployment through Visa Consulting & Analytics. 

The advisory practice focuses on helping clients assess whether stablecoins fit their business needs. Visa positions the service as a decision framework plus an execution plan, covering market fit, strategy, and implementation choices. 

Related: Visa Brings ‘Swift-Killer’ Strategy Across Europe, Tapping Aquanow for Stablecoin Liquidity

Visa says the goal is to help firms move from curiosity to clear next steps. Some firms will advance stablecoin projects after due diligence, while others will decide stablecoin demand is not yet strong enough for production rollouts, based on their own customer and treasury needs.

Visa Consulting Unit Targets Bank Use Cases, Not Crypto Trading

According to Fortune report, Visa’s advisory unit already works with dozens of organizations across the financial sector. These include Navy Federal Credit Union, VyStar Credit Union, and Pathward. 

Additionally, the practice supports institutions exploring cross-border payments and business-to-business settlements. Many of these use cases target regions with volatile local currencies.

The advisory team assists clients with technology choices, operational planning, and integration paths. Moreover, Visa helps firms understand regulatory considerations tied to stablecoin usage. This guidance allows institutions to test ideas without committing excessive resources early. Hence, clients gain clarity on potential benefits and risks before scaling.

Visa expects interest in the advisory practice to rise steadily. The company projects client numbers to reach the hundreds over time. This growth outlook highlights increasing institutional curiosity around stablecoins as payment tools rather than speculative assets.

Visa’s Stablecoin Settlement Data and Card Programs Back the Pitch

Visa’s move builds on years of experimentation with blockchain-based payments. Visa said it piloted stablecoin settlement using USDC in 2023 and has since expanded stablecoin-linked card programs to more than 40 countries, with more than 130 issuing programs in total.

Visa also pointed to real usage data, saying its stablecoin settlement volume has reached a $3.5 billion annualized run rate as of November 30. Visa framed the metric as evidence that stablecoin settlement has moved from theory into measurable payment activity.

Related: Visa Adds Four Stablecoins on Four Chains as Stablecoin Spend Surges