Visa Launches Stablecoin Advisory Practice for Banks and Fintechs
Global payments giant Visa is accelerating its move into digital assets by launching a dedicated advisory service focused on stablecoins. The new initiative is designed to help banks, fintech companies, merchants, and large enterprises evaluate how stablecoins can be integrated into their payment systems and business operations.
The “stablecoins advisory practice”, housed within Visa Consulting & Analytics, will provide clients with market insights, strategic planning, use-case analysis, training programs, and technical guidance. Visa said the service aims to support organizations as stablecoins move closer to mainstream financial infrastructure.
The announcement comes as the stablecoin market continues to expand rapidly. Total market capitalization has surpassed $300 billion, while Visa’s own stablecoin settlement volume has reached an annualized pace of $3.5 billion as of Nov. 30.
“Having a comprehensive stablecoins strategy is critical in today’s digital landscape,” said Carl Rutstein, global head of Visa Consulting & Analytics. “We are proud to help our clients stay agile and competitive as this space evolves at an unprecedented pace.”
Early Adoption by Financial Institutions
Visa said early users of the advisory service include Navy Federal Credit Union, Pathward, and VyStar Credit Union. Navy Federal is assessing how stablecoins could complement its broader payments strategy for its nearly 15 million members worldwide, according to senior vice president Matt Freeman.
Pathward president Anthony Sharett described the advisory engagement as delivering “impressive work, insights, and actionable recommendations.”
Building on Existing Stablecoin Infrastructure
The new advisory practice builds on Visa’s ongoing stablecoin initiatives. In 2023, the company piloted stablecoin settlement using Circle’s USDC and now supports more than 130 stablecoin-linked card programs across over 40 countries. Visa is also testing stablecoin-based cross-border payouts through Visa Direct, allowing eligible businesses to send funds directly to digital wallets.
Stablecoins have increasingly been described as crypto’s first large-scale real-world use case, particularly for payments and remittances. Momentum has also been reinforced by regulatory developments, including the GENIUS Act, signed into law in July, which established a federal framework for stablecoin issuance and oversight in the United States.
As regulatory clarity improves, Visa’s latest move signals that stablecoins are becoming a permanent fixture in global payments infrastructure.
