Businesses using Visa Direct can still fund payouts in fiat currency, while recipients, including creators, freelancers, and gig economy workers, can choose to receive funds in stablecoin assets, allowing faster access to earnings.
Visa has announced a new pilot enabling businesses and platforms to send payouts directly in USD‑backed stablecoins (such as USDC) to recipients’ stablecoin wallets.
This innovation is designed to give the flexible hours workers near‑instant access to funds, improve transparency (via on‑chain logging), and help those cost recipients in underbanked or cross‑border payment settings where traditional banking is slow or constrained.
According to research cited by Visa, 57 % of digital creators say faster access to funds is the primary reason they choose digital payment methods, underscoring the demand driving this initiative.
The pilot addresses key challenges for digital and gig workers by combining speed, transparency, and borderless access.
Key highlights of the pilot include:
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Near-instant payouts in stablecoins for recipients with compatible wallets, reducing delays compared with traditional banking.
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Borderless, USD-pegged value, lowering exposure to currency volatility and dependency on local banking infrastructure.
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Transparent transactions recorded on blockchain, enabling improved auditability and compliance.
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Phased rollout: initially available with select partners, with a broader expansion expected in the second half of 2026 as regulatory frameworks and onboarding processes mature.
Modernizing payouts in the creator and gig economy sectors is critical. The global creator economy, encompassing content creators, freelancers, and gig workers, has grown rapidly over the last few years with the growth of online technologies, social media, and broader acceptance of remote work conditions. Some estimates suggest the sector will exceed $300 billion in annual revenue in 2025. Traditional banking systems, however, often fail to meet the needs of this particular worker segment, especially when it comes to cross-border payments or fast access to earnings.
Therefore, initiatives providing both businesses and recipients with tools that combine speed, transparency, and cross-border accessibility are very appreciated by the creator and gig worker communities. Stablecoins, such as USDC, are increasingly used to address these gaps. They provide near-instant settlement, currency stability, and on-chain transparency, allowing recipients to access funds quickly and safely without relying on traditional banking rails.
The fact that major payment companies like Visa are now exploring these blockchain-based tools to modernize payroll and payouts reflects a broader trend in fintech toward digital-native, cross-border payment solutions for the global workforce becoming mainstream.
