Visa Inc. has launched USDC settlement in the United States, marking a significant milestone in its stablecoin settlement pilot and its broader strategy to modernise the settlement layer underpinning global commerce. For the first time, US issuer and acquirer partners are able to settle with Visa in Circle’s USDC, a fully reserved, US dollar-denominated stablecoin.

The introduction of USDC settlement enables issuers to benefit from faster funds movement over blockchain networks, seven-day settlement availability, and enhanced operational resilience across weekends and holidays, without any change to the consumer card experience.

Initial banking participants include Cross River Bank and Lead Bank, which have begun settling with Visa in USDC over the Solana blockchain. Broader availability in the US is expected through 2026.

Visa is also acting as a design partner for Arc, a new Layer-1 blockchain developed by Circle and currently in public testnet. Arc has been designed to deliver the performance and scalability required to support Visa’s global commercial activity on-chain. Visa plans to utilise Arc for USDC settlement within its network and to operate a validator node once Arc goes live.

“Visa is expanding stablecoin settlement because our banking partners are not only asking about it — they are preparing to use it,” said Rubail Birwadker, global head of growth products and strategic partnerships at Visa. “Financial institutions are seeking faster, programmable settlement options that integrate seamlessly with their existing treasury operations. By bringing USDC settlement to the US, Visa is delivering a reliable, bank-ready capability that improves treasury efficiency while maintaining the security, compliance and resilience standards our network requires.”

Redefining the modern settlement experience

Visa’s US stablecoin settlement framework includes:

Seven-day settlement windows, enabling banks and fintechs to settle seven days a week rather than within the traditional five-business-day window

Modernised liquidity and treasury management, supporting automated, next-generation treasury operations for participating banks

Interoperability, bridging traditional payment rails with blockchain-based infrastructure

Building on a proven foundation of stablecoin innovation

The launch of stablecoin settlement in the US builds on Visa’s earlier pilots across multiple regions, including parts of Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and CEMEA. As of 30 November 2025, Visa’s monthly stablecoin settlement volume had reached an annualised run rate of more than $3.5bn, a milestone following Visa’s initial move to settle transactions in a stablecoin in 2023.

In July, Visa expanded support for additional blockchains and stablecoins within its settlement pilot, providing partners with greater flexibility in how they settle VisaNet obligations.

Visa first experimented with USDC settlement in 2021. Circle, the issuer of USDC, underscored the importance of integrating fully reserved stablecoins into institutional settlement flows.

“Bringing USDC settlement to the US with Visa is a milestone for internet-native money moving at the speed of software,” said Nikhil Chandhok, chief product and technology officer at Circle. “It enables card-issuing financial institutions to modernise treasury operations and unlock new services, while retaining the transparency and trust associated with USDC.”

Early banking participants highlighted the operational benefits of faster, API-driven settlement. Lead Bank, a technology-focused community bank working with fintech partners, noted that seven-day settlement and improved liquidity visibility are becoming increasingly important for clients.

“Lead Bank is proud to be among the first US banks to enable USDC settlement with Visa,” said Jackie Reses, chief executive officer of Lead Bank. “This capability brings speed and precision to treasury operations and helps us deliver modern financial services to the communities we serve.”

Cross River Bank, an infrastructure provider offering embedded financial services, emphasised the importance of interoperability between traditional and digital payment systems.

“Fintech and crypto innovators are increasingly asking us to integrate stablecoins into their existing product suites,” said Gilles Gade, founder, president and chief executive officer of Cross River. “A unified platform that natively supports both stablecoins and traditional payment networks is foundational to how value will move globally. As one of the first US banks to enable USDC settlement with Visa, we are demonstrating how a deeply integrated banking partner can connect blockchain networks and legacy systems at scale.”

To support financial institutions navigating this evolving landscape, Visa Consulting & Analytics has launched a Stablecoins Advisory Practice, offering education and strategic guidance on market fit and implementation.

Visa currently operates stablecoin settlement pilots in multiple jurisdictions across Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and CEMEA.

Re-disseminated by The Asian Banker