Visa Expands Stablecoin Payment Network to 9 Blockchains... Annual Processing Volume Surpasses $7 Billion

While the appearance of plastic cards or digital wallets used by general consumers remains unchanged, the payment rails behind them are undergoing a high-speed digital transformation. As of May 1, 2026, Visa has moved beyond a simple experimental stage to integrate stablecoin payments as a core part of its global network, overcoming the chronic limitations of traditional banking systems.

This move by Visa is invisible to consumers but represents a massive shift in back-end infrastructure. Payment processing via stablecoins enables 24/7 fund movement even on weekends or holidays when banking operations are suspended, drastically improving liquidity in the financial ecosystem.

Visa's stablecoin integration strategy is being carried out intentionally quietly. This is a strategic choice to maximize settlement efficiency between financial institutions without compromising the consumer experience, and through this, Visa is leading an 'invisible revolution.'

The reason Visa is expanding stablecoin payments is that bank partners are moving beyond mere interest and are preparing for actual use. Financial institutions are looking for faster, more programmable settlement options that integrate seamlessly. — Rubail Birwadker, Global Head of Growth Products and Strategic Partnerships at Visa.

On April 29, 2026, Visa announced the introduction of five additional blockchains to its global stablecoin payment pilot. This expansion nearly doubles the number of networks supported by Visa from four to nine, a move that significantly expands Visa's influence within the decentralized ecosystem.

Global Payment Ecosystem Expanded to 9 Blockchains

Visa's stablecoin payment processing volume is showing a steep upward curve in 2026. The processing volume, which was $3.5 billion on an annualized basis in Q4 2025, reached $4.5 billion in January 2026 and surged to $7 billion by the end of April 2026, recording a record growth rate of 50% compared to the previous quarter.

• Ethereum
• Solana
• Avalanche
• Stellar
• Arc
• Base
• Canton
• Polygon
• Tempo

Traditional fiat payment networks suffer from the 'weekend problem' where operations stop during weekends, but USDC settlement based on high-performance blockchains like Solana perfectly solves this. Early partners such as Cross River Bank and Lead Bank are maximizing operational efficiency through this.

Visa's dominance in the current stablecoin-linked card market is overwhelming. While competitor Mastercard is also active in the field, Visa is evaluated to have seized the lead in the quiet infrastructure innovation strategy, accounting for more than 90% of the market share.

Programmable Settlement and the Standard for Future Finance

Visa executives define these changes as the prelude to 'programmable payments.' As automated treasury management and instant settlement become possible, Visa is evolving beyond a simple payment network into a software-defined network.

Visa is advancing its stablecoin API architecture by providing a new onboarding experience through its Developer Center. The new system, introduced in September 2025, accelerates ecosystem expansion by providing tools for companies to issue their own branded stablecoins or automate complex settlement logic.

In conclusion, Visa's stablecoin pilot phase has effectively ended, and digital assets have now become a permanent and core component of the global payment infrastructure. Through this, Visa is overcoming the limitations of the existing financial system and presenting a new standard for future finance.