Visa announced on Tuesday that it will expand its data offerings to companies lending on the blockchain, responding to a significant surge in demand for stablecoin-linked cards. The company will integrate its settlement data with onchain lending infrastructure, providing lenders with enhanced insights into the financial performance of digital asset-focused fintech firms and card issuers. This initiative is designed to accelerate borrowing for these rapidly growing businesses [1].
Currently, Visa operates more than 160 stablecoin-linked card programs for issuers and program managers, representing a nearly 200% year-over-year increase as more crypto businesses launch cards for customers. Cuy Sheffield, Visa's head of crypto, described stablecoin-linked cards as being in 'hypergrowth mode,' with new issuers, including stablecoin neobanks and fintech firms, joining the network and launching cards every week [1].
To address the surge in demand and capital needs, Visa is forming partnerships to enable new issuers to access financing programs through smart contracts and onchain credit. The company has been piloting a program with Credit Coop, which has processed $2.7 billion in total volume on its platform via smart contracts, with no borrower defaults reported. Over the past six years, nearly $700 billion in stablecoin-denominated loans have been sent through onchain lending protocols, according to Visa. The company believes its new data offering can help lenders better evaluate financing opportunities by providing deeper operational insights [1].
The passage of the GENIUS Act last year, which established U.S. stablecoin regulation, was cited by Sheffield as a 'huge' turning point that accelerated adoption of the technology. Visa launched its stablecoin platform in July, enabling settlements and expanding stablecoin-linked card programs, positioning itself alongside competitors like Mastercard, PayPal, and Circle, who are also investing in stablecoin platforms. Visa shares have gained roughly 7% this year [1].
CONCLUSION
Visa's expansion of data services for blockchain lenders underscores the rapid growth and mainstream adoption of stablecoin-linked cards. The company's strategic partnerships and regulatory tailwinds position it as a key player in the evolving digital asset payments landscape, with positive momentum reflected in its share performance.