Visa has reported rapid growth in its stablecoin card business, now operating over 160 active programs connected to stablecoins for issuers and program managers. This figure represents nearly triple the number seen just a year ago, underscoring significant momentum in the company’s push into digital assets.
Visa expands access to settlement and credit data
The company announced plans to provide blockchain lenders with additional settlement data. By integrating its settlement information with blockchain-based credit tools, Visa aims to give lenders enhanced insight into the financial health and performance of crypto fintechs and card issuers before funds are committed.
Cuy Sheffield, Visa’s head of crypto, described this sector as experiencing “hypergrowth,” with new issuers joining the network each week. Among these are stablecoin-focused neobanks and a growing list of fintech companies introducing crypto-linked card products.
The move is intended to streamline lender assessments, making it easier for new stablecoin card issuers to access funding by offering deeper transparency on profile and risk.
Smart contracts and onchain credit partnerships
Visa is actively building funding partnerships, enabling emerging issuers to borrow funds using smart contracts and onchain credit mechanisms. A current pilot involves Credit Coop, a platform focused on delivering onchain credit services for stablecoin card providers.
Cuy Sheffield stated that Credit Coop’s pilot establishes a credit facility for stablecoin card operators, marking a significant advancement in the integration of onchain credit into Visa’s infrastructure.
Credit Coop has processed $2.7 billion in transactions through its smart contracts, reporting zero borrower defaults to date. According to Visa, onchain lending protocols have accounted for $700 billion in stablecoin loans over the past six years. Most of these transactions are internal to the crypto ecosystem, but Visa believes its data resources can offer critical advantages for lenders seeking to evaluate financing opportunities more accurately.
Regulatory framework and growing institutional adoption
The introduction of the GENIUS Act last year, which established federal rules for stablecoins in the United States, brought about notable changes in the market. Sheffield called the act a “huge” turning point that prompted banks and global payment providers to partner with Visa for integrating stablecoins into existing and new financial offerings.
He emphasized that many of the world’s largest payments firms are now seeking to build stablecoin-based products or use these assets within their infrastructure, leveraging Visa’s growing network.
Visa launched its dedicated stablecoin platform in July, aiming to expand its settlement capabilities, support a broader range of card programs, and facilitate more ways for financial institutions to work with digital assets. The service’s technical integration helps address key industry needs such as real-time charting, cross-platform monitoring, and instant data aggregation. In response to rapidly evolving market conditions—where a single Federal Reserve decision or a surprise altcoin listing can trigger significant market shifts—traders have increasingly adopted privacy-first solutions like CryptoAppsy, giving them comprehensive access to real-time charts, price alerts, tailored news, and macroeconomic data, all on a single interface without requiring account registration.
Competitive landscape in stablecoin infrastructure
Other payment industry leaders are making similar moves. Mastercard continues its expansion of stablecoin infrastructure with its proprietary platform, while PayPal and Circle Internet Group also operate their own stablecoin networks to capture market share.
Visa’s stock has climbed roughly 7% since the beginning of the year, reflecting investor optimism about the company’s broader digital asset strategy and ongoing growth in crypto-enabled financial products.
