„Visa“ pristato naujas kriptovaliutų paslaugas
Visa is launching new advisory services to help its clients navigate the cryptocurrency world.
Visa announced the launch of its Global Crypto Advisory Practice in December 2021 as part of Visa Consulting & Analytics. The service was designed to help financial institutions, merchants and other businesses develop cryptocurrency strategies, assess opportunities involving digital currencies and explore non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Since then, Visa has expanded its activities to include stablecoin settlement infrastructure, blockchain-based payment solutions and digital asset services for financial institutions and payment providers.
Visa reported approximately USD 3.5 billion in payment volume through crypto-linked card programmes during its 2021 fiscal year, covering the period from 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2021. This figure represents historical card payment activity rather than the company’s current stablecoin settlement volume. By April 2026, Visa had expanded its stablecoin settlement pilot to support nine blockchain networks, with an annualised stablecoin settlement run rate of approximately USD 7 billion.
Visa has partnered with cryptocurrency exchanges and digital asset platforms to support payment cards linked to eligible crypto-asset accounts. These programmes allow customers to make purchases at participating merchants through the Visa network, with the relevant crypto-assets generally converted into an accepted settlement currency by the service provider. Merchants do not necessarily receive cryptocurrency directly, and the availability of crypto-linked card products depends on the issuing institution, jurisdiction and applicable regulatory requirements.
Visa develops payment and settlement infrastructure involving stablecoins, which are crypto-assets designed to maintain a stable value relative to a specified reference asset, such as the US dollar or euro. Stablecoins are legally and technically distinct from central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), which are digital forms of central bank money. In July 2025, Visa expanded its settlement capabilities to support additional stablecoins, including USDG, PYUSD and EURC, and additional blockchain networks. By April 2026, its stablecoin settlement pilot supported nine blockchains. These services remain subject to applicable regulatory and operational requirements.
Visa hopes its crypto consultancy can help further mainstream adoption of bitcoin and other digital currencies. Like rival Mastercard, the credit card giant sees cryptocurrencies as a key growth opportunity as it expands into areas beyond card payments.
Major payment networks have faced increased competition from an influx of new financial upstarts in recent years. Emerging trends such as open banking, which aims to open up consumer bank information and payment capabilities to rival fintechs, threaten to disrupt their business model.
In November 2021, Amazon announced plans to stop accepting UK-issued Visa credit cards from January 2022, citing concerns about payment processing costs. However, in January 2022, Amazon postponed the planned restriction, and the companies subsequently reached an agreement in February 2022 allowing customers to continue using Visa cards. The proposed UK restriction therefore did not take effect as originally announced. This dispute should be described as a historical commercial development rather than an ongoing restriction on Visa card acceptance.
A cryptocurrency consumer study published by Visa in December 2021 found that 94% of surveyed respondents were aware of cryptocurrencies, while approximately one-third had used cryptocurrency as an investment or medium of exchange. The research surveyed more than 6,000 consumers across selected international markets. These findings reflect consumer awareness and behaviour in 2021 and should not be presented as current global adoption statistics or as representative of the entire world’s population.
Company in Lithuania UAB provides legal and regulatory assistance for establishing crypto-asset businesses in Lithuania. Our services include company incorporation, assessment of regulatory requirements, preparation of AML/CTF compliance policies, corporate governance documentation and support with applications for Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) authorisation under Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA). Since 1 January 2026, Lithuania’s former national VASP registration regime no longer provides authorisation to offer regulated crypto-asset services. Businesses providing services within the scope of MiCA must generally obtain authorisation from the Bank of Lithuania or qualify for an applicable exemption.
