Visa Scales Its Stablecoin Network, Western Union Banks On Solana & More

Welcome back!

This is J264G and this week I’ve got these titbits for you:

• Stablecoin Settlement: Visa expands its stablecoin settlement network.

• Stablecoin Swaps: Revolut introduces zero-fee stablecoin conversions.

• Stablecoin Network: Western Union bets on Solana for stablecoins.

JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon has walked back his earlier stance. Turns out Bitcoin and crypto aren't just for basement dwellers after all.

Now, let’s jump right into this week’s newsletter!

Click on any underlined heading/hyperlink to learn more.

Spotlight

Legacy Threat

The great stablecoin boom has become a test of endurance rather than invention. 

Each new entrant promises efficiency and liquidity, yet the market has reached saturation faster than maturity. Issuers are discovering that it is no longer enough to simply mint a stablecoin and expect adoption to follow. 

What will separate the lasting players from the rest is not who issues stablecoins, but who builds the machinery that makes them move smoothly, securely, and at scale. This demands more than elegant code. It requires companies capable of mastering the entire operational stack: the blockchain layer, the application layer, and the distribution layer.

A robust blockchain layer ensures stability and finality. The application layer translates that infrastructure into usable products—wallets, payment channels, and financial primitives that ordinary users can use daily. But distribution remains the true test of strength: navigating regulation, connecting partners, and onboarding users. 

The companies that succeed will not look like traditional stablecoin issuers but like vertically integrated financial platforms that span code, capital, and customers. They will treat stablecoins not as end products but as components within a broader system of programmable money. Their advantage will come not from the brand on the token but from the efficiency, accessibility, and resilience of the ecosystem that surrounds it.

But here’s the twist: crypto came to disrupt traditional finance, but traditional finance may end up owning the stablecoin economy. That's because legacy players already have the pipes, the licences, and the users. 

So unless crypto-native platforms stop navel-gazing and start solving for the average user at hyperscale—and fully commit to distribution beyond 𝕏—the incumbents will do what they always do: copy the tech and keep the margin.

Numbers Of The Week

News Bites

Going Global: Zelle, the peer-to-peer payments platform backed by major US banks such as Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase, has historically limited its reach to domestic transfers between US account holders. However, that may soon change: the company has announced plans to integrate stablecoins to enable faster, lower-cost cross-border payments from and to the US.

Stablecoin Settlement: Visa has expanded its stablecoin settlement network, adding support for USDC, EURC, PYUSD, and USDG across Solana and other public blockchains. The move positions Visa as the first global payment processor to operate a truly multi-chain fiat-to-stablecoin bridge.

Stablecoin Network: Western Union has announced USDPT, a proprietary stablecoin launching on Solana in early 2026. More notably, however, the company has unveiled its Digital Asset Network aimed at seamless cash off-ramps for digital assets.

Stablecoin Swap: Revolut has introduced zero-fee, zero-spread stablecoin conversions, enabling users to swap between USD and USDT/USDC at a 1:1 rate. The neobank’s 65 million users can exchange up to €500,000 in stablecoins every 30 days. 

Solana Spot ETFs: Bitwise and Grayscale have launched the first Solana Spot ETFs in the US, marking a further milestone in the maturation of digital asset investment products. Trading under the tickers BSOL and GSOL, the spot ETFs offer direct exposure to Solana (SOL), with Bitwise’s product drawing particularly strong early volumes.

Caught In 4K

Weekly Take

Keks & Giggles

And that's a wrap!

You can reach me anytime over on 𝕏 or drop me a line. 

Talk soon!

J264G

_{DISCLAIMER
None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research. Lastly, please be advised that we discuss products and services from our partners from which our team members may hold tokens/equity.}