Visa Expands Stablecoin Settlement Pilot to Nine Blockchains

Visa (V) is accelerating the integration of digital assets into the global payments infrastructure by expanding its stablecoin settlement pilot. The company announced the addition of five new blockchains to its existing framework, bringing the total number of supported networks to nine. The newly integrated blockchains include Arc, Base, Canton, Polygon, and Tempo. This expansion signals Visa's commitment to a multi-chain strategy, aiming to reduce friction in cross-border settlements and leverage the efficiency of stablecoins to streamline movement of funds. According to the company, the pilot program has already achieved significant scale, reaching $7 billion in annualized volume. By diversifying the networks it supports, Visa is positioning itself to maintain its dominance in payment processing regardless of which specific blockchain protocol gains ultimate market primacy. Market reaction to the news was mixed across the sector. While Visa shares trended upward following the announcement, other digital asset-related entities, including CRCL, BLSH, and GEMI, saw their stock prices decline, suggesting investors may favor established incumbents integrating blockchain over smaller, pure-play competitors.