Global payments leader Visa has launched a stablecoin prefunding pilot through its Visa Direct platform, marking a major step toward faster and more efficient cross-border transactions for businesses in Nigeria and other key markets.

The new initiative aims to modernise treasury operations and enhance global liquidity by allowing companies to pre-fund their international accounts using stablecoins — digital assets pegged to traditional currencies such as the US dollar — instead of relying on slow and costly traditional banking channels.

According to Visa, the pilot leverages its vast payment network connecting over 11 billion eligible cards, bank accounts, and digital wallets worldwide, ensuring more predictable, real-time settlement of cross-border funds.

Vice President and Cluster Head, Visa West Africa, Andrew Uaboi, said the innovation is designed to support Nigeria’s rapidly evolving fintech sector and make international payments smoother and more reliable.

“By integrating stablecoins into Visa Direct, we are giving businesses in Nigeria faster, smarter, and more flexible ways to move money across borders,” Uaboi said.
“This innovation helps companies manage liquidity better, reduce costs, and respond more quickly to opportunities, supporting the growth of Nigeria’s dynamic fintech and business ecosystem.”

For decades, international businesses have been constrained by conventional banking systems that often require advance funding and entail long processing times. Visa’s stablecoin pilot seeks to address those challenges by enabling near-instant liquidity — treating stablecoin deposits as equivalent to “money in the bank.”

Under the scheme, participating companies can pre-fund payouts with stablecoins, which Visa converts seamlessly for global transactions. This streamlines treasury management and reduces the need for holding idle capital across multiple bank accounts.

The pilot programme is currently being rolled out to a select group of banks, remittance firms, and financial institutions that meet Visa’s eligibility standards. The company said a broader expansion across more markets and partners is planned for 2026.

Visa’s move underscores the growing convergence between traditional finance and digital assets, as more global payment giants turn to blockchain technology to accelerate money movement and lower costs for businesses worldwide.