Visa launches 24/7 USDC funding for global payments

Visa has launched commercial USDC stablecoin funding for international payments through Visa Direct, naming Inyo Global as its first partner to bring the service into production on October 15, 2026.

Visa announced Thursday that eligible businesses can now use USDC to fund cross-border payouts through Inyo’s payment infrastructure. The launch follows trials conducted during 2025 and introduces stablecoin funding into Visa Direct’s existing commercial payment operations. 

The service allows participating companies to make funds available for international transfers in near real time, without depending entirely on conventional banking hours. Visa said the offering is initially available through Inyo, with access determined by customer eligibility and geographic restrictions.

Inyo serves banks, money transmitters, fintech companies, and payment providers. Its existing infrastructure supports domestic and international payouts across more than 180 countries, although Visa has not confirmed that stablecoin prefunding is available in every market served by the platform.

Visa Direct begins live USDC funding for global payments

With the commercial launch, Inyo’s clients can use USDC to provide funds needed for international payouts through Visa Direct. The stablecoin, issued by Circle, is designed to maintain a value of $1 and can be transferred through supported blockchain networks.

Under conventional prefunding arrangements, businesses often need to place money into designated accounts before payment transactions can be processed. Availability may depend on banking hours and settlement schedules, particularly when transfers involve different countries.

Visa’s new offering gives eligible businesses another funding option. Through Inyo’s existing integration, participating companies can provide USDC to support their cross-border payout obligations without building a separate payment system.

The company’s announcement describes near-real-time prefunding, not a guarantee that every international transfer will reach its recipient immediately. Actual payment delivery remains subject to the destination market, payment method, and applicable availability requirements.

Inyo has incorporated the stablecoin capability into the application programming interfaces already used by its customers. The platform supports customer onboarding, compliance checks, fraud management, payment acceptance, and domestic and international transfers through a single connection.

Robson Dantas, Inyo Global’s co-founder and chief product and technology officer, said the integration gives businesses a funding method available around the clock through familiar technology.

The arrangement is intended for companies managing repeated international payments, including money transfer operators and fintech platforms serving customers across multiple markets.

Visa moves stablecoin payment pilots into commercial use

The October rollout follows Visa’s earlier testing of blockchain-based payment infrastructure. In September 2025, the company introduced a stablecoin prefunding pilot under Visa Direct to examine how businesses could finance international payouts using digital dollars.

The initial Visa stablecoin cross-border payment pilot focused on funding flexibility and liquidity management. Eligible participants could test stablecoin funding arrangements designed to reduce their reliance on traditional payment schedules.

In November 2025, Visa introduced a separate program allowing eligible businesses to send dollar-backed stablecoins directly to digital wallets. The stablecoin payouts pilot for creators and gig workers targeted freelancers, online creators, and other workers receiving payments from international platforms.

The two programs tested different parts of the payment process. Prefunding concerns how a business supplies money to support a payout, while direct stablecoin payouts concern the asset received by the final customer.

Thursday’s commercial announcement specifically identifies Inyo Global as the first processor to introduce the USDC prefunding capability into production. Visa did not announce that every payout processed through Inyo would be delivered to customers as USDC.

Following the initial trials, the company said it had worked with payment providers to examine how stablecoins could support global transfers and improve access to funds outside normal banking schedules.

Vira Platonova, global head of Visa Direct, described the commercial release as the next stage of the company’s stablecoin work.

“The next chapter for stablecoins is adoption,” Platonova said, explaining that Visa’s previous testing was now producing live implementations for business customers.

Inyo Global integrates stablecoins into existing payment services

Inyo’s role in the launch centers on connecting its payment processing platform with Visa Direct’s stablecoin funding service. Businesses already using Inyo’s interfaces can access the new capability when they meet the required conditions.

The company works with financial institutions and payment businesses that need to manage accounts, screen transactions, and distribute funds domestically or internationally. Its platform combines several payment functions through one technical integration.

According to Inyo, USDC prefunding will allow eligible customers to fund payout activity at any time of day. The company expects the service to reduce dependence on limited banking windows when businesses need to make funds available for international transfers.

Dantas described the offering as “a new way to fund their payouts” and said customers could access it through the same interfaces they already use.

Visa has not disclosed the number of businesses currently using the stablecoin service, its initial transaction volume, or the amount of USDC processed since production began. The announcement did not provide a complete list of eligible countries or a timetable for expanding availability.

The company confirmed that its existing network controls remain part of the service. Participating businesses must continue meeting relevant compliance, security, and eligibility requirements.

Visa’s implementation with Inyo concerns a processor connecting business customers to international payout infrastructure. It does not require every recipient to open a cryptocurrency wallet or accept stablecoins.

Visa expands stablecoin services across its payment network

The Inyo launch follows other commercial developments in Visa’s digital asset business. The company has been expanding stablecoin settlement, payment processing, and card products through agreements with financial institutions and technology providers.

In September, Visa reported that its stablecoin-linked card network had expanded to more than 160 programs globally. The company said spending through those programs had increased nearly 200% year over year.

Visa separately reported that stablecoin settlement activity had exceeded a $20 billion annualized rate. The figure described payment settlement activity across its supported programs and did not represent transaction volume from the newly launched Inyo service.

The company’s stablecoin strategy includes partnerships with financial institutions and payment providers seeking to connect blockchain transfers with existing accounts and payment networks. Products vary by market and may involve digital asset settlement, fiat payouts, or cards linked to stablecoin balances.

Following Thursday’s announcement, Visa said it intends to work with clients and partners on further stablecoin payment applications. No additional Visa Direct prefunding processors were named in the release.

Platonova is scheduled to discuss the company’s stablecoin payment operations during sessions at Money20/20 USA the following week. Visa has not announced another production partner or a specific date for the next rollout.