Visa is partnering with WeFi, a deobanking infrastructure provider, to explore stablecoin-based payments and on-chain banking in select markets across Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
The initiative will test embedding on-chain banking and stablecoins into traditional payment ecosystems within existing regulatory frameworks.
"On-chain banking closes that gap, and partnering with Visa makes it usable at scale," said Reeve Collins, co-founder and Chairman of WeFi.
Initially, the focus will be on regulated stablecoins for everyday payments. The goal is to allow consumers to spend seamlessly across Visa's network and enable businesses to benefit from faster, more predictable cross-border settlement without altering existing payment habits.
This reflects a growing demand for infrastructure that translates blockchain assets into economic activity as stablecoins and tokenized assets gain traction.
"Our focus is on making these new models practical at scale by connecting them to payment experiences people already trust," stated Mathieu Altwegg, Head of Product & Solutions Europe at Visa. "This collaboration demonstrates how Visa’s global network interacts with onchain models, while operating within established regulatory frameworks."
WeFi's platform bridges DeFi and traditional finance, allowing users to interact with digital assets while accessing established payment networks. It balances user autonomy with regulatory compliance.
"We see this partnership as a way to work with Visa’s capabilities as we continue to develop WeFi’s deobanking offering across key regions," noted Maksym Sakharov, co-founder and Group CEO of WeFi.