07.08.202609:53 Forex Analysis & Reviews: Visa moves stablecoins from pilots into production infrastructure: 18 billion access points in 195 countries

Visa's partnership with infrastructure firm Zerohash marks a shift from experimental pilots to full production infrastructure. As disclosed, the company has, as of August 5, rolled out stablecoin functionality across the entire Visa Direct network — its instant payouts platform that spans more than 18 billion access points among eligible cards, accounts and digital wallets in 195 countries and territories. Visa Direct customers will now be able to pre-fund accounts and make payouts in stablecoins, with USDC as the primary asset, and the integration is described by the company as a live, scalable solution for institutional treasury funding and cross-border payments rather than another limited test project.

Company representatives say the choice of partner appears deliberate. Zerohash was founded in 2017, recently raised $104 million in a Series D-2 round led by Interactive Brokers at a $1 billion valuation, and in May became the first firm to receive both a MiCA license and e-money institution status in Europe. A notable detail in the deal's backstory: Zerohash had previously been discussed as an acquisition target by Visa's rival Mastercard, but those talks never resulted in a deal; instead, Mastercard last week closed its own acquisition of BVNK for $1.8 billion.

Visa's head of product, Mark Nelsen, explained the rationale simply, saying that stablecoins open new ways to make the movement of money faster and more flexible, especially for cross-border payments.

The launch came amid a week of sharp consolidation across the payments industry around digital currencies. A day earlier, Western Union launched its own Stablecard, channeling consumer value onto the Solana blockchain via the USDPT token, and Mastercard completed the purchase of BVNK to bolster its own stablecoin infrastructure. The GENIUS Act adopted this year — which created a federal regulatory framework and allowed licensed banks to issue compliant stablecoins — effectively removed a risk that had for years kept major financial institutions from taking active steps in this direction.

Trading recommendations

Bitcoin

Buyers are currently targeting a return to $64,800, which opens a direct path to $66,000, and then to $66,800 — a breach of that level would indicate attempts to return to a bull market. If Bitcoin falls, buyers are expected at $62,300. A return of the instrument below that area could quickly push BTC toward $60,600. The furthest downside target is $58,500.

Ethereum

A clear hold above $1,920 opens a direct path to $1,961. The furthest upside target is the high around $2,012; surpassing that would signal strengthening bullish sentiment and a return of buyer interest. On the downside, buyers are expected at $1,868. A drop below that area could quickly send ETH toward $1,834. The furthest downside target is $1,782.

What's on the chart

• The red lines represent support and resistance levels, where the price is expected to either pause or react sharply.
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Price testing or crossing any of these moving averages often either halts movement or injects fresh momentum into the market.