Drops as Zero Hash Deal Brings Stablecoins to Visa Direct

TLDR

• Visa Direct adds stablecoin prefunding and payout support through Zero Hash.

• Visa stock fell 0.23% to $368.74 after a sharp midday drop and mild rebound.

• Zero Hash will provide settlement, liquidity, and compliance infrastructure.

• The deal extends stablecoin transfers across Visa’s global payment network.

• Visa strengthens its stablecoin push as rivals expand blockchain payment tools.

Visa (V) shares fell 0.23% to $368.74 after a sharp midday decline and a limited afternoon recovery. The move came as Visa expanded stablecoin support across its Visa Direct payments network. The Zero Hash agreement adds stablecoin prefunding, payouts, and wallet transfers for eligible business clients.

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Visa Direct Adds Stablecoin Payment Options

Visa will allow selected Visa Direct clients to prefund merchant accounts with approved stablecoins. Businesses will also send payouts directly to digital wallets through the same network. Zero Hash will provide settlement technology, liquidity support, and regulatory infrastructure for these services.

The new setup gives companies more flexibility when managing international liquidity and payment timing. Stablecoins can move outside standard banking hours and reduce delays across some cross-border payment routes. Recipients can also access funds faster when they choose direct stablecoin delivery.

Visa Direct connects cards, bank accounts, and wallets across more than 195 countries and territories. The network reportedly reaches more than 18 billion payment endpoints worldwide. That scale gives Visa a broad channel for bringing stablecoin settlement into existing payment systems.

Zero Hash Provides Settlement and Compliance Infrastructure

Zero Hash will handle the backend systems needed to process stablecoin transactions for Visa Direct clients. Its platform supports conversion, custody, settlement, liquidity management, and regulatory controls. This structure lets Visa add blockchain-based transfers without rebuilding its wider payments network.

Zero Hash started operations in 2017 as an infrastructure provider for digital asset services. It later raised $104 million in a Series D-2 round led by Interactive Brokers. That financing valued the company at $1 billion and strengthened its institutional payments expansion.

Zero Hash also secured regulatory approvals that support its role in international stablecoin payments. In May, it gained MiCA licensing and Electronic Money Institution status in Europe. The firm has also applied for a United States national trust bank charter.

OUSD Fits Visa’s Wider Stablecoin Strategy

The Zero Hash agreement follows several Visa initiatives focused on blockchain settlement and tokenized money. Visa previously worked with BVNK to support stablecoin-funded payouts and direct wallet transfers. It also introduced the Visa Stablecoin Platform for institutional stablecoin issuance and management.

That platform supports wallet tools, minting, burning, compliance controls, and payment integration. Visa initially included Open USD as a supported stablecoin within the system. The company also joined Open Standard, which supports the development and adoption of OUSD.

Visa Direct reportedly processes about $1.7 trillion in real-time payments across its global network. Stablecoin settlement may support gig payments, creator transfers, remittances, and business transactions. Visa now competes with Mastercard and Stripe while meeting different regulatory requirements across global markets.