Global payments giant Visa Inc. has launched a pilot program in the U.S., allowing businesses to directly send payouts to gig workers’ stablecoin wallets using fiat currency funding. This move aims to expedite payments for independent contractors and platform-based workers. 🤝, known as Visa Direct, will allow organisations to fund payouts in US dollars while recipients receive USD-backed stablecoins like USD Coin (USDC) into compatible digital wallets. 💸 Visa emphasizes near-instant delivery of funds with a stable USD-pegged value for recipients against currency fluctuations, and enhanced transparency through blockchain-based transaction records. 📊 This pilot program focuses on markets with limited banking infrastructure or high volatility, providing easier access to money for individuals. 🌎 The initiative builds upon Visa’s earlier pilot allowing businesses to pre-fund payouts using stablecoins; the current move delivers stablecoin receipt directly to end-users in a first-of-its-kind approach. This expansion marks a significant step towards mainstream payment networks incorporating digital asset rails and reflects growing institutional interest in stablecoins. 📈 With businesses increasingly conducting cross-border transactions and remote work becoming commonplace, faster payout mechanisms are a differentiator. Visa’s pilot program may set the stage for other payment firms to embrace crypto-adjacent services while maintaining the reliability of traditional financial infrastructure.