- Visa opens USDC settlement rails for U.S. banks on Solana
- Banks prepare blockchain settlement as Visa expands stablecoin infrastructure nationwide
- Regulatory clarity accelerates institutional adoption of stablecoin payments through Visa
Visa has expanded its stablecoin operations in the United States by enabling settlement using Circle’s USDC on the Solana blockchain. The payments company said U.S. financial institutions can now access the service for back end payment flows. According to Visa, the rollout reflects growing readiness among banks to adopt blockchain based settlement infrastructure.
Notably, Cross River Bank and a16z backed Lead Bank are among the first institutions preparing to participate. Visa said the service will expand further through 2026 as more banking partners complete integration.
According to Visa Global Head of Growth Products and Strategic Partnerships Rubail Birwadker, banks are moving from inquiry to execution. He said institutions want faster settlement options that integrate directly with existing treasury systems.
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Additionally, Visa emphasized that the stablecoin service meets its network standards for security, compliance, and resiliency. Hence, banks can use USDC settlement without altering core operational processes. The structure allows regulated institutions to adopt programmable payments while remaining within established risk frameworks.
Regulatory clarity and institutional demand drive expansion
Visa’s announcement follows a series of recent initiatives tied to stablecoin infrastructure. Earlier this week, the company launched a stablecoin advisory practice focused on guiding banks and corporates. According to Visa, the advisory group covers issuance models, custody solutions, and onchain payment flows. Moreover, the company recently introduced USDC based creator payouts and extended settlement pilots across multiple regions.
Meanwhile, the expansion comes amid changes in the U.S. regulatory landscape. The GENIUS Act established the country’s first federal framework for stablecoins. The legislation was signed by President Donald Trump, who is the current president of the United States. Consequently, clearer rules have encouraged large financial institutions to accelerate stablecoin adoption.
The stablecoin market currently stands near $300 billion, with projections estimating growth toward $2 trillion by 2028. Circle, the issuer of USDC, has continued to build infrastructure aimed at institutional usage. According to Circle, its Arc Layer 1 blockchain testnet launched with participation from Visa, BlackRock, and Anthropic. Visa is also a design partner for Arc and plans to operate a validator once the network goes live.
Visa’s choice of Solana native USDC highlights increasing institutional activity on the network. Recently, JPMorgan created a Solana based USCP token for a debt transaction with Galaxy. Additionally, State Street and Galaxy announced plans for a tokenized private liquidity fund on Solana. To support rising demand, Jump Crypto’s Firedancer validator client recently reached mainnet, increasing throughput capacity for the network.
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