With its own stablecoin business gaining momentum, Visa is launching a new advisory service aimed at helping banks, credit unions, and other enterprises implement their own stablecoin strategies.
Housed within Visa Consulting & Analytics, the Stablecoin Advisory Practice will offer training, market analysis, strategy development, use-case sizing, and technical support for organizations looking to explore the use of digital assets. The service’s clients already include Pathward, VyStar Credit Union, and Navy Federal Credit Union.
“Stablecoins may represent an opportunity to enhance speed and lower cost in payments,” Matt Freeman, Senior Vice President at Navy Federal Credit Union, said in a prepared statement. “So with the support of Visa, we are evaluating how this technology could fit into our broader strategy to deliver meaningful value to our 15 million members worldwide.”
Who Benefits?
While the service is being marketed to organizations of all types, it may be best suited for entities that are still exploring the possibility of expanding their cross-border capabilities and business-to-business transactions.
“Small to mid-size financial institutions should benefit the most, especially institutions that are member-focused, cost sensitive, and can benefit from stablecoins’ benefits of reducing payment costs,” said Joel Hugentobler, Cryptocurrency Analyst at Javelin Strategy & Research. “Large FIs will just do their own thing rather than going to a direct competitor, like Mastercard or Visa.
“But at the end of the day, if any size customer is asking themselves: How does this integrate in our existing stack and compliance? Do we build, partner, or buy? Which stablecoin use case is actually worth pursuing? They could benefit from Visa’s experience.”
Visa Jumps into Stablecoins
Visa has aggressively moved into the stablecoin business this year, with annual settlement volume reaching $3.5 billion in the digital asset. Since becoming one of the first major payments networks to pilot stablecoin settlement, Visa now rolled out more than 130 stablecoin-linked card issuing programs across more than 40 countries.
Roughly two months ago, it became the first major payment rail to adopt stablecoins as a means for international transactions, allowing businesses to prefund Visa Direct transactions using stablecoins rather than fiat currency. The payments giant has positioned its stablecoin offering not merely as a convenience, but as a tool to improve liquidity management.
“FIs and banks should take note—stablecoins aren’t just for cross-border payments,” Hugentobler said. “They’re for treasury and cash management, liquidity management, FX operations, and 24/7 settlement. If a financial institution or bank isn’t exploring stablecoin integration at this point, they’re behind the curve.”
