Global payments leader Visa has launched a new pilot enabling direct stablecoin payouts using Circle’s USDC, marking a major step toward faster and borderless digital payments. The program, designed for creators, freelancers, and gig workers, allows U.S. businesses using Visa Direct to send funds in fiat while recipients can instantly receive payments in USDC stablecoins.

Visa says this innovation gives workers “universal access to money in minutes,” offering a lifeline for those in regions with unstable currencies or limited banking access. The pilot follows Visa’s earlier stablecoin pre-funding test in September but now extends directly to end users, putting digital dollars straight into wallets that meet Visa’s KYC and AML standards.

Currently launching with select partners, the program will expand globally by late 2026. Visa has already processed over $140 billion in crypto and stablecoin transactions, and CEO Ryan McInerney confirmed that stablecoin-linked Visa card spending quadrupled over the past year.