Visa Turns On USDC Settlement for US Banks

Payments giant Visa has begun live stablecoin settlement using USDC, giving select partners a new way to close transactions every day, not just during the traditional work week.

The launch places blockchain rails directly into Visa core settlement flow and pushes stablecoins deeper into real financial infrastructure.

Good to Know

• Visa now supports USDC settlement in the United States
• Settlement runs on Solana with daily availability
• Cross River Bank and Lead Bank joined as early partners

From Pilot to Real Payment Flow

Visa launched stablecoin settlement in the US using USDC, the dollar pegged digital asset issued by Circle. The framework allows issuer and acquirer partners to settle transactions directly on blockchain rails, beginning with the Solana network.

The rollout builds on Visa ongoing pilot work around stablecoins and global commerce. Rather than testing in isolation, Visa placed stablecoin settlement inside live payment operations with regulated banking partners.

The structure supports seven day settlement windows. Banks and fintechs can now reconcile transactions every day instead of waiting for standard five day cycles. Faster settlement improves liquidity access and reduces idle capital tied up over weekends.

Treasury Operations Shift to Automation

Beyond speed, Visa built the system to modernize treasury and liquidity management. Automated settlement workflows replace manual processes that slow reconciliation across legacy rails.

Programmable settlement also allows financial institutions to align blockchain payments with existing treasury systems. Visa framed the offering as infrastructure first, rather than a crypto experiment.

Visa Global Head of Growth Products Rubail Birwadker said:

“Visa is expanding stablecoin settlement because our banking partners are not only asking about it – they’re preparing to use it.

Financial institutions are looking for faster, programmable settlement options that integrate seamlessly with their existing treasury operations. By bringing USDC settlement to the U.S., Visa is delivering a reliable, bank ready capability that improves treasury efficiency while maintaining the security, compliance and resiliency standards our network requires.”

Visa selected Solana as the starting network due to speed, cost efficiency, and capacity for high volume settlement. Solana supports near instant finality, which fits Visa focus on operational reliability rather than speculative use.

Using USDC keeps settlement value stable while running on public blockchain infrastructure. That pairing reduces volatility risk while still offering the benefits of programmable payments.

Initial participants include Cross River Bank and Lead Bank, both known for fintech partnerships and real time payment experimentation. Their involvement positions the framework for expansion across issuer and acquirer networks once operational performance proves out.