Key facts
- Businesses can now prefund Visa Direct payouts with USDC in near real time.
Visa Direct has moved its USDC stablecoin prefunding capability into commercial production, allowing businesses to fund payouts in near real time. Payments provider Inyo Global is the first enabler on the network, integrating the capability into existing APIs. The move aims to reduce float costs and dependence on traditional bank operating hours for cross-border transactions.
For businesses operating at high volumes, prefunding Visa Direct payouts with USDC can reduce float costs and eliminate reliance on traditional bank operating hours for cross-border transactions. Visa's established compliance, security, and network scale are maintained throughout the process, indicating a strategic push by Visa to treat stablecoins as core infrastructure.
Visa Direct has officially transitioned its USDC stablecoin prefunding capability from a pilot phase into commercial production, with payments infrastructure provider Inyo Global being the first to enable the service. This development, announced on October 15, 2026, signifies a significant advancement in integrating regulated stablecoins into mainstream cross-border payment systems. Eligible businesses, money transmitters, fintechs, banks, and payment companies can now utilize USDC to prefund Visa Direct payouts in near real time, operating 24/7. Visa had conducted various experiments throughout 2025 to build the foundation for this launch, focusing on direct fund transfers to creator and gig-worker wallets. Vira Platonova, Visa's Global Head of Visa Direct, stated that these efforts are now translating into live implementations. Inyo Global's platform, which supports payouts in over 180 countries, has integrated Visa's stablecoin functionality directly into its existing APIs, allowing clients to use the service without rebuilding their systems. This move aligns with a broader trend in traditional finance towards always-on liquidity solutions, as seen in initiatives by Singapore Gulf Bank and Cross River Bank.
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