Visa now has a clear ambition: to become a key player in “Onchain Finance.” The company, known for its traditional payment solutions, aims to combine the strengths of stablecoins, decentralized finance (DeFi), and tokenization to build a new global financial infrastructure.
Visa targets stablecoin lending
After several years exploring Web3 and cryptocurrencies, Visa is taking the next step. The company is developing an on-chain lending platform based on stablecoins and smart contracts.
This hybrid model would allow banks and financial institutions to provide liquidity, while decentralized protocols ensure transparency and automation via blockchain. Visa would provide compliance, infrastructure, and the bridge between traditional and digital finance.
Three strategic pillars for on-chain finance
- Tokenization of Real-World Assets (RWA)
Tokenization digitally represents physical or financial assets on the blockchain. This market, already growing rapidly, could reach trillions of dollars by 2030. It provides new sources of collateral for loans and increases liquidity in on-chain markets. - Crypto-backed lending models
Visa sees strong potential in credit systems using cryptocurrencies as collateral. These mechanisms allow access to liquidity without selling assets, while smart contracts provide automated and transparent management. Banks can inject funds, and the blockchain ensures real-time tracking. - On-chain identity and scoring
A major challenge in DeFi is managing identity and financial reputation. Visa envisions risk assessment systems based on on-chain transaction history and zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) technologies. These tools could make credit more accessible and reduce dependence on high collateral.
A silent revolution in global finance
Integrating tokenization, stablecoin lending, and digital identity could transform traditional finance, creating an ecosystem where transparency, security, and efficiency become standard.
For Visa, this is a strategic turning point: moving from simple payment processing to actively shaping the finance of the future. If realized, the boundary between TradFi (traditional finance) and DeFi could soon vanish.
