Visa partners with zerohash to broaden stablecoin payments

Visa partners with zerohash to broaden stablecoin payments
Visa adds stablecoin payouts via zerohash

​Visa is expanding the role of stablecoins within its global payments network by integrating new blockchain-based settlement capabilities into Visa Direct through a partnership with infrastructure provider zerohash. The move reflects growing demand for faster cross-border payments while signaling that digital assets are becoming more deeply embedded in traditional financial services.

Highlights

  • Visa is adding stablecoin support to Visa Direct.
  • zerohash will provide the underlying infrastructure.
  • Businesses can send faster cross-border payouts.
  • The service enables round-the-clock settlement.

According to The Block, eligible Visa Direct clients will soon be able to prefund merchant accounts and send payouts using stablecoins, with zerohash providing the underlying blockchain infrastructure, compliance framework, and regulatory support. Visa Direct connects more than 18 billion payment endpoints, including bank accounts, cards, and digital wallets, across more than 195 countries and territories.

Stablecoins move deeper into mainstream payments

The new functionality is designed to improve liquidity management and speed up cross-border settlements by allowing businesses to transfer value at any time rather than relying solely on traditional banking hours. Merchants will also have the option to receive funds directly in stablecoins, reducing settlement delays and expanding payment flexibility.

For Visa, the partnership extends an ongoing strategy to integrate blockchain-based payment tools without replacing existing financial infrastructure. Instead, stablecoins become another settlement option operating alongside conventional payment rails. Zerohash will supply the technology required to process digital assets while handling regulatory obligations associated with the service.

The announcement follows several years of investment by Visa in blockchain infrastructure, tokenized payments, and stablecoin settlement solutions aimed at enterprise clients rather than retail cryptocurrency users.

Zerohash strengthens its regulatory position

The agreement also highlights zerohash's growing position within the digital asset infrastructure sector. Founded in 2017, the company most recently raised $104 million in Series D-2 financing at a valuation of about $1 billion. It has also expanded its regulatory footprint, becoming the first firm licensed under Europe's Markets in Crypto-Assets framework to receive Electronic Money Institution status.

The company has additionally applied for a U.S. national trust bank charter, reflecting broader ambitions to serve regulated financial institutions as digital assets become increasingly integrated into payment systems.

Rather than focusing on speculative cryptocurrency trading, the partnership targets practical payment applications where businesses require faster settlement, improved liquidity management, and continuous transaction availability across multiple jurisdictions.

A broader shift in global payments

The agreement underscores how stablecoins are increasingly being positioned as payment infrastructure rather than speculative assets. By integrating blockchain settlement into one of the world's largest payment networks, Visa is expanding practical use cases for digital dollars while maintaining compatibility with traditional financial systems. With Visa Direct serving more than 195 markets and billions of payment endpoints, the partnership could accelerate enterprise adoption of regulated stablecoin payments for international commerce.   

Earlier, we reported that Visa sees stablecoins powering AI agent micro-commerce.

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