Visa Pilots USDC Payouts For Creators, Gig Workers

Visa is piloting a new program allowing companies to send USD payments to recipients who receive them in stablecoins like Circle’s USDC. The system enables firms to pay in fiat USD while recipients receive dollar-pegged stablecoins directly into their wallets.

The pilot scheme is targeted at the creator and gig economy, potentially benefiting platforms like TikTok and YouTube that distribute frequent, smaller payments globally. Visa has not announced any participating platforms.

Recipients will need a stablecoin wallet and must pass standard AML/KYC checks. Currently, the pilot is limited to U.S.-based platforms and businesses.

Visa anticipates broader access to the service during the second half of 2026, contingent on regulatory approvals. The pilot is being integrated into Visa Direct, Visa’s payment service utilizing its own payment rails.

While the program initially focuses on USDC, Visa did not specify whether or when support for other stablecoins would be added. Visa has been actively investing in the stablecoin space throughout 2025.

In October, Visa participated in Circle’s public testnet for its Layer-1 blockchain network, Arc, alongside BlackRock and Goldman Sachs. Previously, in May, Visa made a strategic investment in London-based stablecoin infrastructure firm BVNK.

A recent Visa report predicts a growing role for stablecoins within the $40 trillion global credit market, suggesting potential for blockchain-based lending. Visa, like Mastercard, has also been developing support for stablecoin-based crypto credit cards.

Disclaimer: What is written here is not investment advice. Cryptocurrency investments are high-risk investments. Every investment decision is under the individual’s own responsibility.