Visa has taken a major step forward in implementing blockchain. As of January 2026, the payments giant operates a full-fledged global stablecoin payments system across multiple blockchains. This move shows that traditional finance is no longer testing blockchain technology. Instead, we are actively using it at scale.
VISA builds multi-chain stablecoin rail; $ETH at the core
As of January 2026, Visa has moved far beyond its pilot program to operate a full-fledged global stablecoin payment system across multiple blockchains.
Ethereum remains the core layer for security and deep liquidity… pic.twitter.com/398ntYQZxc
— CryptosRus (@CryptosR_Us) January 31, 2026
The system processes over $3.5 billion in payment volume annually, making it one of the largest real-world blockchain deployments by a traditional financial institution.
Ethereum remains at the core
Ethereum continues to play a central role in Visa’s strategy. Visa uses Ethereum for high-value, highly secure transactions due to its strong security and high liquidity.
At the same time, Visa doesn’t rely solely on Ethereum. Instead, we adopted a multi-chain approach to improve speed, cost efficiency, and flexibility. This allows Visa to match each blockchain with the types of transactions it best handles.
Visa assigns clear roles to each blockchain
Visa currently settles stablecoin payments on four blockchains: Ethereum, Solana, Stellar, and Avalanche.
Ethereum processes transactions that require maximum security. Solana and Avalanche, on the other hand, support rapid settlements at the institutional level, where speed is of the essence. Stellar, on the other hand, focuses on enterprise use cases and cross-border payments.
Visa distributes activity across multiple networks to avoid congestion and improve reliability. As a result, the system will be able to support global payment needs more efficiently.
Visa Eyes Arc blockchain payment
Looking to the future, Visa plans to go even further. The company is the design partner for Arc, a new layer 1 blockchain purpose-built for Circle payments. Although Arc is still in the testnet stage, Visa plans to run validators and settle USDC directly on the network once it launches.
This step can potentially speed up payments and reduce costs for businesses. This also shows Visa’s long-term commitment to blockchain-based payments.
From experiment to actual implementation
Overall, Visa’s stablecoin advancements represent a clear shift to traditional finance. Banks and payment companies are no longer running small-scale pilots. Instead, they are deploying blockchain systems in real-world operations.
While faster blockchains continue to grow, Ethereum still underpins the system with its reliability and liquidity. This multi-chain setup highlights how blockchain will become the core of global payments in 2026.