Visa Inc. (V) is fundamentally retooling its network for a post-fiat world, officially integrating stablecoin settlement for U.S. financial institutions. The payments giant announced Tuesday that it will now allow banking partners like Cross River Bank and Lead Bank to settle transactions using Circle’s USDC over the Solana blockchain, effectively ending the legacy requirement that all domestic card payments eventually resolve in traditional bank cash.
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This deployment is the first of its kind within the U.S. banking system, made possible by the Genius Act, a landmark federal framework signed by President Trump that provides the regulatory shield banks needed to handle fiat-pegged tokens. While traditional Visa settlement takes up to three business days, these new blockchain rails enable near-instant movement of funds seven days a week, effectively erasing the “weekend pause” that has plagued global commerce for decades.
Visa Combats the $50 Trillion Infrastructure Threat
Visa is currently locked in a high-stakes race to own the technology that could disrupt over $50 trillion in annual payment flows by 2030. Its primary rival, Mastercard (MA), is reportedly in late-stage talks to acquire the crypto infrastructure startup Zero Hash for as much as $2 billion, a move intended to bring similar blockchain orchestration capabilities directly under its control.
Despite the looming competition, Visa has already established a significant lead. As of November 30, its annualized stablecoin settlement volume topped $3.5 billion, a fast-growing segment that, while small compared to the $17 trillion processed on its network last year, proves the technology is ready for prime time. By partnering with Stripe’s Bridge to help fintechs launch stablecoin-linked cards, Visa is ensuring that even the newest upstarts in the industry remain tethered to its global ecosystem.
Is Visa a Good Stock to Buy?
Visa Inc. (V) holds a Moderate Buy consensus rating from Wall Street, with analysts viewing the firm’s embrace of stablecoins as a necessary defense against decentralized payment threats. Based on 32 analysts who have provided 12-month price targets over the last three months, 24 analysts recommend a Buy, seven suggest a Hold, and only one analyst advises a Sell.
The average 12-month price target for Visa is set at $405.12, suggesting a potential 16.78% upside from its recent price.
