Visa has partnered with Anchorage Digital to expand its cryptocurrency settlement infrastructure, adding Western Union's USDPT stablecoin as a supported settlement asset.
The agreement, announced on November 12, 2026, allows Visa and eligible financial partners to settle VisaNet obligations using USDPT, a US dollar-pegged stablecoin issued by Anchorage Digital Bank.
USDPT becomes the first Anchorage-issued stablecoin supported directly for settlement on Visa's payment network.
The companies have also established a framework to explore integrating additional Anchorage-issued stablecoins in the future.
The partnership represents another step toward bringing blockchain-based settlement into traditional financial infrastructure, potentially reducing dependence on conventional banking settlement processes.
Western Union's USDPT Stablecoin Joins VisaNet
USDPT was launched on the Solana blockchain in May 2026, with Anchorage Digital Bank responsible for issuing and safeguarding the stablecoin.
Western Union initially introduced the token in the Philippines and Bolivia, targeting faster international money transfers.
The company plans to expand stablecoin-powered settlement across its global network, which operates in more than 200 countries and territories.
However, Visa's integration does not mean USDPT settlement is immediately available in every Western Union market.
The stablecoin currently has approximately $18 million in circulating supply, according to DeFiLlama data cited in the announcement.
Western Union has also partnered with payment infrastructure provider Noah to support cryptocurrency-based remittance payouts through its Receiver Redirect service.
Anchorage Digital Provides Regulated Banking Infrastructure
Anchorage Digital Bank is the first federally chartered cryptocurrency bank in the United States, operating under the supervision of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
Its involvement provides a regulated institutional foundation for issuing and safeguarding stablecoins.
Beyond USDPT, Anchorage issues stablecoins for several major financial and cryptocurrency businesses, including Tether, OSL Group, Ethena Labs, Falcon Finance and Zelle.
The company states that these tokens are fully backed by US dollars and cash equivalents and redeemable at a one-to-one ratio.
Anchorage also operates Atlas, an institutional network supporting settlement, collateral management and cross-border transactions.
Visa's Stablecoin Settlement Volume Exceeds $20 Billion
Visa has significantly expanded its stablecoin settlement operations, reflecting growing institutional interest in blockchain-based payment infrastructure.
In September, the company reported an annualized stablecoin settlement run rate exceeding $20 billion.
That represented more than a fifteenfold increase compared with the previous year.
Visa has also expanded its blockchain settlement capabilities across networks including Base, Canton, Monad and Tempo.
The USDPT integration introduces another regulated settlement option, potentially supporting more flexible international payment operations.
Stablecoins Gain Ground in Global Payments
The partnership comes as stablecoins increasingly move beyond cryptocurrency exchanges into mainstream financial services.
Despite recent supply contractions, the broader stablecoin market remains worth approximately $289 billion, according to figures cited in the report.
Tether's USDT and Circle's USDC continue dominating circulation, while newer institutional stablecoins target payments, remittances and settlement.
For Anchorage, the Visa integration strengthens its ambition to become an institutional settlement bank for digital assets.
Additional stablecoin integrations remain possible, although neither company has announced which tokens might receive support next.
The agreement highlights how established payment networks are incorporating regulated blockchain assets into their financial infrastructure.
