Visa Invests in Stablecoin Infrastructure Provider BVNK to Enhance Stablecoin Payment Solutions

BVNK has secured investment from Visa Ventures, marking the payments giant’s latest initiative to integrate stablecoin technology into its global operations.

The stablecoin payment infrastructure provider BVNK has successfully completed a strategic funding round with Visa, reinforcing the traditional payments powerhouse’s dedication to blockchain-based settlement solutions. This funding, announced by BVNK CEO Jesse Hemson-Struthers on Tuesday, was facilitated through Visa Ventures.

While the exact financial details remain confidential, this development follows BVNK’s $50 million Series B funding in December 2024, which was led by Haun Ventures and saw support from Coinbase Ventures, Scribble Ventures, DRW Venture Capital, Avenir, and Tiger Global.

Hemson-Struthers described the collaboration as “more than mere funding,” emphasizing it as a “substantial endorsement of our vision to revolutionize global payments through stablecoin technology.”

Crypto.news reached out multiple times to both BVNK and Visa, but neither responded by the publication deadline.

In the announcement, Rubail Birwadker, Visa’s head of growth products and partnerships, remarked that stablecoins “are swiftly becoming a crucial component of global payment systems, and Visa is investing in innovative technologies and firms like BVNK to maintain its leadership in future commerce and enhance service for our clients and partners.”

BVNK asserts that it processes $12 billion in annualized stablecoin payment transactions, stating that its platform has been meticulously developed to enable automated, high-volume transactions. The company positions its services as an efficient alternative to the traditional correspondent banking system, which it deems too slow and expensive for contemporary business needs.

“At BVNK, we recognized early that stablecoins would emerge as an instant global payment rail and a viable alternative to the traditional correspondent banking system. That’s why we’ve built our infrastructure from the ground up to automate and orchestrate stablecoin payments at scale, making these new rails accessible to businesses of all sizes.”

Hemson-Struthers

Pursuing Stability

The Visa investment comes at a time when the stablecoin sector is receiving heightened interest from institutional players. In late April, Visa collaborated with the Bridge startup, recently acquired by Stripe, to enable fintechs to issue Visa cards that directly utilize stablecoin balances.

This groundbreaking product, initially set to debut in six Latin American countries, empowers users to load cards with stablecoins, which are then converted to local currency at the point of sale. Merchants receive payments in their local currencies, mitigating risks associated with cryptocurrency volatility.

Bridge CEO Zach Abrams characterized the partnership as a “massive unlock for developers,” asserting that everyone “will be able to utilize stablecoins with just a tap.” Jack Forestell, Visa’s chief product and strategy officer, reiterated that the company aims to “securely integrate stablecoins within its global network,” offering consumers and developers enhanced financial options.

BVNK seems aligned with this wider strategic vision. In its announcement, the company emphasized that its stablecoin infrastructure could transform business operations in the digital economy, particularly in regions lacking effective cross-border banking solutions.

The company is also progressing in the U.S. market, having established offices in San Francisco and New York earlier this year. Former BlockFi executive Amit Cheela and ex-Cross River executive Keith Vander Leest are spearheading its U.S. initiatives.

‘Trillion-Dollar Opportunity’

Recent quarters have seen impressive growth in stablecoin payment volumes. Visa’s Onchain Analytics platform reports that global stablecoin volume reached $33.4 trillion across 5.5 billion transactions, indicating increasing momentum beyond mere trading applications.

Citi Wealth has also noted that stablecoins “could ultimately reinforce the dominance of the U.S. dollar,” particularly as stablecoin infrastructure scales on a global level.

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Dragonfly Capital managing partner Haseeb Qureshi previously suggested that 2025 may signal a pivotal evolution for stablecoins, arguing that they could transform into essential tools for small and medium-sized enterprises, moving beyond speculative cryptocurrency trading to facilitate real-world payments and settlements.

“Stablecoin usage will explode, particularly among SMBs. Not just trading and speculation — real businesses will start using on-chain dollars for instant settlement.”

Qureshi

He also indicated that advancements in efficiency and accessibility would enable stablecoins to surpass traditional systems, especially with clearer regulatory frameworks.

Pantera Capital, another prominent crypto investment firm, has labeled stablecoins as a “trillion-dollar opportunity,” noting that they now comprise over 50% of blockchain transaction activity, a significant increase from merely 3% in 2020.

For BVNK, its partnership with Visa also serves as a major reputational milestone. Hemson-Struthers framed it as a commitment to the core principles of payment innovation.

“I’m particularly excited about what it means to partner with Visa—the original payments innovator,” he stated, highlighting that the synergy of Visa’s expertise in creating global payment networks with BVNK’s stablecoin infrastructure would result in “powerful possibilities.”