Visa Direct stablecoin pilot speeds up access to funds for creators & gig workers

Payment service provider Visa has introduced a new stablecoin payout pilot program to simplify payments from businesses to creators.

According to a press release shared with crypto.news, Visa has launched a new pilot that allows businesses to send USD-backed stablecoin payouts directly to digital wallets for creators, freelancers, and gig workers. The company shared that the initiative aims to give these creatives better and quicker access to their earnings, using Visa Direct to deliver funds in stablecoins like USDC.

This offers an alternative to traditional payout methods, leveraging blockchain technology for a better settlement system. The rollout of the service will begin with a few partners and is expected to expand to Europe as demand grows.

By using stablecoins, Visa aims to reduce delays tied to banking hours or cross-border transfers, making payments easier and more accessible to users. 

President of Commercial & Money Movement Solutions at Visa, Chris Newkirk, commented on the initiative, saying, “Launching stablecoin payouts is about enabling truly universal access to money in minutes, not days, for anyone, anywhere in the world.”

The announcement follows the payment giant’s Monetized: 2025 Creator Economy Report, which found that faster access to funds is the top priority for more than half of digital content creators. The report shows that 57% of creators prefer digital payment options that let them access money quickly and securely.

Visa’s stablecoin initiatives

This latest payout pilot builds on the program the firm began testing earlier in the year. In September 2025, Visa announced a pilot via Visa Direct that allowed businesses to pre-fund cross-border payouts using stablecoins instead of fiat. 

Visa stated at the time that the goal of the initiative is to remove traditional limitations and unlock faster access to liquidity for businesses by treating stablecoins as “cash-on-hand” during payouts, enabling a better and simpler system for users.

Later in October 2024, the firm announced plans to add support for four new stablecoins across four different blockchains in its settlement platform, expanding its offerings. This decision followed a reported significant rise in stablecoin-linked card spending among its users. 

While the company did not name the specific tokens or chains, it already supports major stablecoins like USDC (USDC), Euro Coin (EURC), and PayPal USD (PYUSD), and has partnered with several crypto-native firms over the years to expand settlement options.