Key Highlights
- Visa launches USDC settlement in the U.S., letting banks move funds faster while linking traditional banking with blockchain.
- Seven-day settlement and blockchain interoperability help banks manage liquidity and treasury operations more efficiently.
- Visa partners with Circle and Arc blockchain, supporting stablecoin adoption amid evolving U.S. regulations and guidance frameworks.
Global payment technology company Visa has officially launched USDC settlement for U.S. banks. For the first time, issuers and acquirers in the U.S. can settle transactions using Circle’s fully reserved, dollar-backed stablecoin. The initial rollout includes Cross River Bank and Lead Bank, which are already settling through the Solana blockchain.
As per the announcement, broader availability is expected across the U.S. in 2026. This change lets banks move money faster, keeps cash flow steady even on weekends and holidays, and does not affect how consumers use their cards.
Rubail Birwadker, Visa’s Global Head of Growth Products and Strategic Partnerships, highlighted the increasing demand from financial institutions for programmable, faster settlement solutions integrated with treasury operations.
“Financial institutions are looking for faster, programmable settlement options that integrate seamlessly with their existing treasury operations,” he said. “By bringing USDC settlement to the U.S., Visa is delivering a reliable, bank‑ready capability that improves treasury efficiency while maintaining security, compliance, and resiliency standards.”
Modernizing bank settlement with USDC
The USDC settlement introduces a concept of seven-day settlement windows that will enable the settling of funds outside the working days. Consequently, managing liquidity will improve, and the working of the treasuries will happen automatically with high accuracy. Furthermore, the system will provide interoperability between the traditional payment channels and the blockchain environment.
The capability was praised by the Lead Bank, with the CEO, Jackie Reses, remarking, “This capability brings speed and precision to treasury operations and helps us deliver modern financial services to the communities we serve.”
Cross River Bank also emphasized the importance of integrating stablecoins with existing product suites. Founder and CEO Gilles Gade noted, “A unified platform that natively supports both stablecoins and traditional payment networks is the foundation for how value will move globally.” Both banks demonstrate the growing demand for bank-grade blockchain solutions that combine reliability, speed, and interoperability.
Visa and Circle’s strategic collaboration
Visa is also a design partner of Arc, a novel layer 1 blockchain that is being developed by the company Circle and is in the process of testing on the public testnet. Arc is envisioned to provide the performance and scalability that would allow it to support Visa’s commercial activity on the blockchain. Visa will use Arc for the settlement of USDC and will maintain a validator node when the blockchain goes live.
The firm has already observed the pilot of stablecoin settlements in Latin America, Europe, APAC, and CEMEA. By November 2025, the monthly volume of stablecoin settlements had reached an annualized volume of $3.5 billion. This is indicative of the adoption trends of blockchain payments.
Guidance and regulatory context
To support financial institutions, Visa Consulting & Analytics launched its Global Stablecoins Advisory Practice. The service provides strategic guidance, market insights, and implementation support.
Carl Rutstein, Global Head of VCA, explained that stablecoins are becoming essential in today’s digital world. He said, “Having a comprehensive stablecoins strategy is critical in today’s digital landscape. Clients come to Visa and VCA for guidance because they trust our ability to navigate change.”
Regulations are keeping pace with Visa’s rollout. The GENIUS Act, passed in July 2025, sets clear rules for U.S. stablecoin issuers. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called it a “win-win-win” for users, issuers, and the government, highlighting that it helps widen access to the U.S. dollar globally and boosts demand for U.S. Treasuries.
Visa’s USDC settlement allows banks to process transactions faster, even on weekends, while staying compliant and secure. Linking traditional banking with blockchain helps banks manage funds more efficiently.
Also Read: Ripple’s RLUSD Stablecoin Expands to Optimism, Base, and Other L2s
