Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is one of the best forever stocks to buy according to hedge funds. On December 16, the company unveiled the USDC settlement in the United States. It marks an essential milestone in the company’s bid to enhance stablecoin settlement across its network as it continues to modernize the settlement layer that underpins global commerce. Visa Inc. (V) Unveils USDC Stablecoin Settlement in the US The USDC settlement support will allow issuer and acquirer partners in the US to settle with Visa ...

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) announced the launch of USDC settlement in the United States, marking a key milestone in the company’s stablecoin settlement pilot program and strategy to “modernize its settlement layer underpinning commerce.” Now, U.S. issuer and acquirer partners can settle with Visa in Circle’s USDC, “a fully reserved, dollar-denominated stablecoin.”With USDC settlement, issuers can benefit “from faster funds movement over blockchains, seven‑day availability and enhanced operational resilience across ...

Banks can now settle transactions with Visa using Circle Internet Group's USDC. ...

Visa is expanding its stablecoin pilot to include settlements in the United States using Circle's USDC on the Solana blockchain.  The expansion will allow U.S. acquirer and issuer partners of the payments giant to settle in USDC, starting with initial banking partners Cross River Bank and Lead Bank. The firm is expecting a broader rollout in 2026.  “Visa is expanding stablecoin settlement because our banking partners are not only asking about it—they’re preparing to use it,” said Visa’s Global Head of Grow ...

Core Insights - Visa has initiated stablecoin settlement in the U.S., allowing partners to settle using Circle's USDC stablecoin [1][2] - The rollout includes Cross River Bank and Lead Bank, with more partners expected to join by 2026 [2][3] - The stablecoin settlement aims to enhance treasury efficiency and operational resilience for financial institutions [3][4] Visa's Stablecoin Settlement Features - USDC settlement offers near-instant funds movement and seven-day settlement availability [3] - The service is designed to integrate with existing treasury operations, improving speed and precision [4] - Visa's monthly stablecoin settlement volume has surpassed a $3.5 billion annualized run rate as of November 30 [5] Strategic Vision and Future Plans - Visa's CEO highlighted stablecoins as the next-generation settlement infrastructure in a recent letter to shareholders [5] - The company plans to support more stablecoins and blockchains on its settlement platform, aiming for a multicoin and multichain foundation [6] - A pilot program was announced to allow institutions to load stablecoins into Visa Direct for global disbursements [6]

Core Insights - Visa is expanding its stablecoin settlement capabilities in the CEMEA region through a partnership with Aquanow, a digital assets platform [1][2] - The integration aims to enable issuers and acquirers to settle transactions using approved stablecoins like USDC, reducing operational costs and accelerating settlement cycles [2][5] - The demand for efficient cross-border payments is driving the adoption of stablecoins to address issues like weekend limitations and unpredictable clearing times [3] Visa's Stablecoin Infrastructure - Visa's engagement with stablecoin technology began in 2023 with a pilot initiative allowing clients to settle in USDC, which has since scaled to a monthly volume exceeding a $2.5 billion annualized run rate [4][7] - The partnership with Aquanow is seen as a significant step in modernizing payment systems and reducing reliance on traditional intermediaries [5][6] Aquanow's Role - Aquanow provides institutional-grade digital asset services and will be a key infrastructure partner for Visa, processing billions in monthly crypto transactions [6][7] - The collaboration aims to unlock new opportunities for institutions in the digital economy by leveraging stablecoin technology for faster and more transparent settlements [6][7]

Core Insights - Visa Inc. has partnered with Aquanow to enhance its stablecoin-based settlement infrastructure in the CEMEA region, allowing transactions to be settled using approved stablecoins like USDC [1][4] - The partnership aims to streamline cross-border settlements, reducing time, cost, and operational friction associated with traditional banking systems [2][4] - The adoption of stablecoins is expected to modernize Visa's transaction processes, with monthly settlement volumes indicating over $2.5 billion in annualized activity [3][4] Visa's Strategic Moves - The integration of Aquanow's digital-asset infrastructure into Visa's technology stack will facilitate quicker fund settlements, potentially operating around the clock [2][4] - This initiative is anticipated to improve Visa's margins over time by lowering operational and liquidity costs, attracting new clients such as banks and fintechs [4] - As stablecoin usage increases, Visa's position as a global settlement hub is expected to strengthen, leading to higher transaction volumes and recurring fees [4] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Mastercard and American Express are also advancing in the stablecoin space, with Mastercard launching tools for stablecoin transactions and American Express exploring blockchain partnerships [5][6] Financial Performance and Estimates - Visa's shares have increased by 5.6% year to date, outperforming the broader industry but lagging behind the S&P 500 Index [7] - The forward price-to-earnings ratio for Visa is 25.52X, higher than the industry average of 20.32X, indicating a premium valuation [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects an 11.7% year-over-year earnings growth for fiscal 2026, followed by 13.3% growth in the subsequent year [12]

Core Insights - The company aims to integrate the x402 Protocol to support the emerging AI agent economy, leveraging its regulatory presence across 40 U.S. states to capture a significant shift in global value movement [1][5][6] Company Strategy - OBOOK Holdings Inc. (OwlTing) has unveiled a global strategy to become a next-generation infrastructure provider for Stablecoin and tokenized-asset settlement across over 20 markets [3][4] - The company is accelerating the rollout of a compliant, stablecoin-based infrastructure designed to facilitate institutional finance and AI-driven commerce [5][6] Market Trends - There is a growing demand for stablecoin-based settlement and tokenized financial infrastructure, with organizations transitioning from pilot programs to full-scale deployments [4][12] - The global stablecoin circulation is projected to reach $2.8 trillion by 2028, potentially supporting up to $200 trillion in annual transactions by 2030 [7][8] Technological Integration - The integration of AI into OwlTing's payment infrastructure is a key component of its strategy, enabling AI agents to execute transactions autonomously [9][10] - The x402 protocol will standardize how AI agents identify, invoice, and settle transactions, positioning OwlTing as a critical infrastructure provider for autonomous commerce [10][11] Compliance and Regulatory Advantage - The company emphasizes its compliance-first approach as a competitive advantage, believing that regulatory standing will be crucial for institutional partners [12][15] - OwlTing has achieved a strong regulatory footprint in 40 U.S. states and is pursuing additional licenses globally to create a regulated corridor for fiat-to-stablecoin flows [15][20] Operational Efficiency - OwlTing's unified settlement layer aims to resolve the fragmentation of traditional banking, replacing the T+2 settlement cycle with near-instant T+0 finality [8] - The company’s infrastructure is designed to reduce costs by eliminating intermediaries in cross-border transactions, providing transparency through on-chain, auditable records [8][14]

Circle Payments Network (CPN) Overview - CPN is designed for global interoperability, compliance, and near-instant settlement [1] - CPN combines a vetted member network with programmable flows at internet speed [1] - CPN aims to provide a programmable foundation for future-proof payment workflows [2] Key Features - CPN offers embedded compliance at the network level [2] - CPN facilitates near-instant stablecoin settlement [2] Industry Impact - The industry believes the internet now has a money layer through CPN [1] - The industry anticipates the next chapter of commerce will be programmable 24/7 [1]

Core Insights - Finastra has announced a strategic collaboration with Circle to integrate USDC settlement into cross-border payment flows, enabling banks to innovate in this area [1][2][3] - The integration will utilize Finastra's Global PAYplus (GPP) platform, which processes over $5 trillion in cross-border transactions daily, allowing for rapid and cost-effective international transfers [2][4] - This collaboration aims to reduce banks' reliance on traditional correspondent banking chains, thereby accelerating settlement times while ensuring compliance and foreign exchange processes [2][3] Company Overview - Finastra is a global leader in financial services software, serving over 8,000 customers, including 45 of the world's top 50 banks, across more than 130 countries [4] - The company specializes in various sectors, including Lending, Payments, Universal Banking, and Treasury & Capital Markets, providing mission-critical solutions [4] - Circle is a global financial technology firm that focuses on enabling businesses to utilize digital currencies and public blockchains, issuing stablecoins like USDC and EURC [5]