Anchorage Digital has announced that its stablecoins can now settle payments directly on Visa’s payment network, integrating regulated digital assets into traditional payment infrastructure. Western Union’s USDPT, issued and custodied by Anchorage Digital Bank, is the initial stablecoin for this settlement.
This integration marks the first time an Anchorage-issued token has achieved settlement status on Visa’s network. The partnership establishes a framework that could allow for the integration of additional Anchorage-issued stablecoins in the future. Anchorage Digital operates as a federally chartered crypto bank, overseen by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
Anchorage argues that this integration appeals to institutions by combining the speed and efficiency of stablecoins with the security and safeguards of a regulated bank. “Speed alone won’t bring institutions onchain,” said Nathan McCauley, Anchorage’s co-founder and CEO, emphasizing that institutions desire “a regulated institution behind the money,” now receiving both stablecoin speed and federally regulated bank protections.
Visa’s Expanding Stablecoin Integration
The integration is the latest step in Visa’s ongoing efforts to incorporate stablecoins into its settlement processes. Visa has previously established stablecoin settlement programs across various networks, including Base and Polygon, and has developed platforms to assist banks and fintech firms in issuing and moving stablecoins. Dan Roesbery, a Visa vice president for crypto partnerships, described the support for USDPT as providing partners with “another trusted, institution-grade option” for settling with Visa.
Anchorage’s Institutional Ambitions
For Anchorage Digital, this partnership advances its broader objective of becoming a settlement bank for stablecoins at an institutional scale, offering not only issuance but also custody and settlement infrastructure. The bank already issues other stablecoins, such as Tether’s USAT and Ethena’s USDtb, all redeemable one-to-one for U.S. dollars. Its Atlas network facilitates off-exchange settlement, collateral management, and cross-border transfers.
By enabling settlement on Visa’s extensive network, which reaches numerous merchants and banks globally, Anchorage Digital extends its institutional footprint into mainstream payments. The companies indicated that support for further Anchorage-issued stablecoins could follow the initial USDPT launch, though specific timelines and the exact stablecoins to be added remain uncertain.
Why This Matters
The materials describe a narrow update: Anchorage Digital has partnered with Visa to allow select Anchorage-issued stablecoins, beginning with Western Union’s USDPT, to settle transactions directly on Visa’s payment network (VisaNet). Which additional Anchorage-issued stablecoins will be supported on Visa’s network in the future.
Broader Context
Source materials place the factual news in this context: Anchorage Digital is extending its stablecoin reach into one of the world’s largest payment networks, teaming up with Visa to let select Anchorage-issued tokens settle transactions directly on VisaNet, starting with Western Union’s USDPT.
