Visa Sets Anchor on Ethereum: Its New Multi-Blockchain Stablecoin Strategy

Starting from January 2026, Visa has moved beyond pilot testing and has directly entered large-scale production. The payments giant now manages a global stablecoin settlement system that already processes over $3.5 billion in annual volume. This transformation marks a crucial milestone: traditional financial institutions are no longer testing blockchain in isolated labs but operating production-level infrastructure that handles real money, real transactions, and millions of users.

Visa’s strategy is not based on a single blockchain but on a multi-chain architecture designed to optimize security, speed, and profitability. At the core of this ecosystem is the anchor: Ethereum. Its role as the foundation of Visa’s operations reflects a fundamental reality about how traditional finance is adopting blockchain technology.

The Multi-Chain Architecture: Ethereum as a Strategic Foundation

Visa has built its stablecoin settlement system around a core principle: different chains for different needs. Ethereum serves as the anchor for high-value, maximum-security transactions. Its deep liquidity, robust decentralization, and proven track record make it the choice when absolute reliability and settlement finality matter most.

But Ethereum does not operate alone. Surrounding it, Visa has orchestrated an ecosystem of specialized complements:

• Solana and Avalanche: Handle ultra-fast settlements where low latency and institutional performance are critical. These networks enable Visa to process transactions at minimized costs without sacrificing operational efficiency.

• Stellar: Plays a specialized role in cross-border payments and financial inclusion. Its focus on international remittances aligns perfectly with Visa’s global payment strategy, especially in regions where efficient cross-border settlement is essential.

This function-distribution model, based on each chain’s strengths, prevents network congestion and significantly enhances the overall system’s reliability.

Ethereum Remains Relevant Even in a Multi-Chain World

While faster blockchains capture market attention, Ethereum has solidified its position as the anchor that underpins Visa’s entire operation. This reality challenges the narrative that high-speed new chains could replace Ethereum.

The truth is more nuanced: Ethereum does not need to process all transactions to be essential. Its strength lies in being the backbone for settlement of the most critical cases. Its battle-tested security and established decentralization make it irreplaceable when real money is involved. The other chains are scalability optimizers, not substitutes.

Arc: The Next Chapter in Payment Evolution

Looking ahead, Visa is positioning itself even more aggressively at the blockchain infrastructure frontier. Circle, the company behind the USDC stablecoin, is developing Arc, a Layer-1 blockchain specifically designed for payment use cases.

Visa is not a passive user here: it is a design partner. The company plans to run a validator on Arc once the network launches from its current testnet phase, and will settle USDC directly on-chain. This is not a speculative gamble but a strategic commitment that Arc will become a critical payment infrastructure.

From Pilot to Production: The Era Shift in Finance

What makes this moment historic is a change in mindset. Isolated experiments are a thing of the past. Visa is investing engineering and capital into production-grade infrastructure that handles real volumes. This signals that traditional finance is not only adopting blockchain but integrating it as a core component of their operations.

The anchor holding everything together is, paradoxically, what allows everything to move: the trust and security represented by Ethereum at the heart of Visa’s system. As 2026 progresses, this multi-chain architecture with Ethereum as its foundation will continue to redefine how global payment settlement functions.