Visa has made commercial cross-border transfers in USDC operational
Payment giant Visa has officially launched its USDC stablecoin-based cross-border payment pre-financing system into full commercial operation. The solution, which has undergone multi-stage testing with a limited number of fintech partners, is now available to financial institutions and corporate clients around the world. Integration of Circle’s stablecoin into the global VisaDirect network allows cross-border Visa USDC transfers to be carried out almost instantly, eliminating the need to maintain large cash balances in accounts with foreign correspondent banks.
How does the new payment system work?
The traditional pattern of international commerce requires companies to take a lengthy process of “pre-funding”—creating large reserve deposits in target countries to ensure payments to counterparties. Visa’s new commercial service radically changes this logic through the use of blockchain infrastructure:
- 24/7 liquidity:Treasury services transfer USDC stablecoins through the Visa platform at any time of the day, including weekends and holidays.
- Direct Conversion: The payee can automatically convert USDC to local fiat currency through VisaDirect’s local payment partners.
- Capital optimization:Financial institutions release millions of dollars previously blocked in nostro/vostro accounts.
Why was the launch a turning point for the market?
Pilot testing of technology
