Visa has unveiled its roadmap focused on the stablecoin ecosystem, highlighting its participation in OpenUSD and the development of tokenized deposits. During its third-quarter results presentation, the company emphasized how blockchain technology is redefining cross-border payments.
Financial results and the leap towards blockchain infrastructure
During the presentation of its third-quarter results, Visa reported revenues of $11.600 billionThis represents a 14% increase compared to the same period last year. This strong growth has been driven primarily by a 13% increase in the volume of cross-border payments (12% excluding intra-European transactions) and a 10% increase in the total number of transactions processed globally.
Beyond the traditional figures that reflect the health of its core business, the multinational has made clear its intention to encompass multiple layers of the crypto ecosystem. Executives indicated that the company is actively building upon every stratum of the stablecoin architecture. This includes everything from the underlying blockchain network and asset issuance to the development of digital wallet solutions, orchestration infrastructure, and decentralized applications for end users.
The interest in this technology is no coincidence. Traditional payment systems often face operational friction, settlement delays, and high costs when it comes to moving money between different jurisdictions. By integrating decentralized networks, the aim is to optimize these processes, allowing value to flow as quickly as information on the internet.
The architecture of stablecoins and the role of OpenUSD
One of the cornerstones of this new phase is the company's joining the OpenStandard consortium, a strategic initiative aimed at promoting the adoption of the OpenUSD stablecoin. This digital asset is specifically designed to facilitate global money transfers, offering an efficient alternative to traditional bank transfers.
The company's platform is structured to allow its trading partners to settle transactions directly using these types of digital assets. Furthermore, this infrastructure provides advanced on-chain wallet services (known in the industry as wallet-as-a-service), making it easier for other companies to integrate crypto capabilities without having to develop the technology from scratch.
This gateway also simplifies seamless conversion between fiat and crypto, starting with OpenUSD as the primary exchange vehicle. If you want to delve deeper into how these types of linked assets work and their impact on the digital economy, you can explore the educational resources available at Bit2Me Academy, where we break down the key concepts of the ecosystem.
Tokenized deposits: the bridge for financial institutions
The company's strategy is not limited to public stablecoins operating on open networks. It has also announced the integration of its platform with Pismo, a banking infrastructure provider, to support tokenized deposits specifically targeting financial institutions and commercial banks.
Tokenized deposits represent an evolution of traditional bank money. Unlike a public stablecoin, a tokenized deposit is a direct liability of the issuing financial institution, recorded on a distributed ledger (blockchain). This initiative aims to modernize how banks manage liquidity, execute interbank transfers, and settle high-volume transactions in real time.
In the European context, these types of institutional moves align perfectly with the transparency and protection standards promoted by the MiCA Regulation. This regulation establishes a clear framework for the issuance and management of digital assets linked to official currencies (known as electronic money tokens or EMTs), ensuring that they operate within a known and managed risk environment. Under MiCA, issuers must maintain liquid and audited reserves, positioning Europe as fertile ground for institutions to develop programmable money solutions with complete legal certainty.
Artificial intelligence and the rise of agent trading
Alongside blockchain technology, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as the other major long-term growth driver for the payments industry. During the presentation, company representatives described both technologies as deeply complementary tools that, when combined, have the potential to completely redefine the business landscape.
The company's vision is clear: while stablecoins and blockchain technology are transforming the inner workings and settlement (the backend) of finance, artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the user experience and interaction (the frontend). This convergence gives rise to what they call "agentic commerce."
Agent trading envisions a near future where autonomous AI agents can negotiate, purchase, and settle payments on behalf of users or businesses. Smart contracts deployed on the blockchain act as the perfect execution engine for the AI's decisions. If an agent detects a supply need, it can automatically execute the payment using stablecoins, without human intervention and with instant settlement. To stay up-to-date on these technological innovations, we recommend following the updates at Bit2Me News.
The impact on global cross-border payments
The 13% increase in cross-border payment volume underscores the growing need for efficient global solutions. Historically, sending money across borders has relied on a complex network of correspondent banks, often resulting in slow, opaque, and costly processes for the end user.
Implementing a strategy based on stablecoins and tokenized deposits directly addresses this problem. By using blockchain networks, transactions can be settled in seconds, regardless of the sender's and receiver's geographical location. Furthermore, the immutability of the distributed ledger provides complete traceability, reducing the operational costs associated with reconciliation and regulatory compliance.
As more partners integrate into this platform and begin settling their trades in assets like OpenUSD, we are likely to see a significant reduction in barriers to entry for international trade, benefiting both large corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises looking to expand their global reach.
FAQ
What is OpenUSD and what role does it play in this strategy?
OpenUSD is a stablecoin designed to facilitate global value transfers. In this context, it will be used as the primary digital asset for network partners to settle transactions and move funds between traditional currencies and the crypto ecosystem efficiently and transparently.
What is the difference between stablecoins and tokenized deposits?
While stablecoins are typically issued by private entities and backed by asset reserves, tokenized deposits are digital representations of traditional bank funds. These deposits are direct liabilities of the issuing bank, allowing institutions to operate on the blockchain without abandoning their usual regulatory framework.
How does the MiCA Regulation affect stablecoins in Europe?
The MiCA Regulation establishes strict rules for the issuance of stablecoins in the European Union, requiring regular audits, transparent reserves, and consumer protection. This ensures that digital assets pegged to fiat currencies operate within a known and managed risk framework, providing legal certainty to the ecosystem.
The convergence of blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, and clear regulatory frameworks like MiCA is ushering in a new era in global finance. The strong commitment to stablecoins and tokenized deposits demonstrates that the payments infrastructure of the future will be programmable, fast, and internationally interconnected.
Investing in cryptoassets is not fully regulated, may not be suitable for retail investors due to high volatility and there is a risk of losing all invested amounts.
