Payment giant Visa has launched USDC stablecoin settlement in the United States.
The move allows U.S. issuer and acquirer partners to settle obligations in Circle's dollar-pegged stablecoin for the first time.
The launch marks the U.S. phase of a stablecoin settlement program that has reached a $3.5 billion annualized run rate as of November 30.
Cross River Bank and Lead Bank are the initial participants, settling with Visa in USDC over the Solana blockchain.
Visa announced Tuesday it expects to extend access to more U.S. partners through 2026.
What Happened
Visa's new USDC settlement option enables near-instant funds movement with seven-day-a-week availability.
The system offers enhanced operational resilience across weekends and holidays without changing the consumer card experience.
"Visa is expanding stablecoin settlement because our banking partners are not only asking about it – they're preparing to use it," said Rubail Birwadker, Visa's global head of growth products and strategic partnerships.
The payment network is deepening its relationship with Circle by serving as a lead design partner for Arc.
Arc is Circle's new Layer 1 blockchain currently in public testnet.
Visa plans to utilize Arc for USDC settlement within its network and operate a validator node once the chain goes live.
The company first experimented with USDC settlement in 2021.
Visa became one of the first major payment networks to settle transactions in a stablecoin in 2023.
Since then, the network has added support for multiple blockchains and stablecoins in its pilot program.
Nikhil Chandhok, Circle's Chief Product and Technology Officer, called the U.S. launch "a milestone for internet native money moving at the speed of software."
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Why It Matters
The launch represents a significant step toward mainstream stablecoin adoption in traditional finance.
Visa's stablecoin settlement framework offers seven-day settlement windows and modernized liquidity management.
The system provides interoperability between traditional payment rails and blockchain infrastructure.
Financial institutions can benefit from faster funds movement, reduced settlement times, and improved treasury operations.
The move addresses growing demand from banks and fintechs seeking to modernize settlement flows.
Early banking partners highlighted benefits including clearer liquidity timing and API-driven settlement experiences.
Gilles Gade, founder and CEO of Cross River, emphasized the importance of unified platforms supporting both stablecoins and traditional payment networks.
"A unified platform that natively supports both stablecoins and traditional payment networks is the foundation for how value will move globally," Gade said.
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