Visa’s Stablecoin Payout System Reshapes the Future of Creator Earnings

Visa’s new stablecoin payout system is designed to solve a major problem creators have faced for years, slow and expensive payments. Starting in November 2025, creators can receive their earnings in USDC a digital coin that always matches the value of the U.S. dollar, directly into their digital wallets. This means creators no longer need to wait days or weeks for transfers, pay high fees, or deal with middlemen. For many creators who lose as much as 30% of their income to delays and charges, this is a major improvement.

The creator economy has become one of the biggest digital industries of the decade. Millions of people earn money by making videos, music, art, courses, or doing freelance work online. But the financial systems available to them have not kept up. Payments are often slow, costly, and difficult to withdraw, especially for those working with international clients.

Visa’s new approach shows a shift in the digital world. Big payment companies, tech platforms, and blockchain developers are now working together to solve problems traditional banks struggled with. As the creator economy grows and is expected to reach a $50 billion tokenized content market by 2028, stablecoin-based payouts offer a faster, safer, and more flexible way for creators to access their money.

How Visa’s Stablecoin Payouts Work

Visa’s new system allows creators to receive earnings in USDC instead of relying on bank transfers or payment processors. USDC is issued on blockchain networks, meaning transactions are nearly instant and settle at very low cost. With Visa’s integration, these payouts can be sent across borders effortlessly and accessed through supported digital wallets.

The technology behind the system uses Visa Direct combined with Circle’s USDC infrastructure. Transactions for these pilots have run on several blockchains, including the Ethereum mainnet and the high-performance Solana blockchain. USDC is also available and widely used on other networks, including the Ethereum Layer-2 network Base.  The use of stablecoins on these networks dramatically reduces settlement times from days (typical for traditional international wire transfers) to a matter of seconds or minutes. Transaction fees on Layer-2 networks like Base are typically a fraction of a cent.

Creators join the platform through a verification process that ensures compliance with global financial rules. Once approved, they can receive payouts according to their preferred schedule, weekly, monthly, or on demand. Smart contract functionality also enables conditional payouts. For example, a creator releasing a course or digital collection can arrange for funds to unlock only when certain milestones are met. This programmable design reduces reliance on intermediaries and supports more transparent financial agreements.

Early pilot programs have already revealed substantial benefits. During tests with thousands of video creators, payout delays dropped from up to a week to a few hours. Fees were reduced by more than 90 percent compared with some popular payment platforms. For many creators who depend on timely earnings to reinvest in their work, the improvement is significant.

The creator economy was valued at more than $100 billion in 2024 and is expected to double within a few years. Yet despite this momentum, payment inefficiencies have slowed progress. Many creators must navigate fees from multiple platforms and endure long settlement periods. Some remain excluded entirely because they lack access to secure banking systems.

Stablecoin payouts address these challenges directly. Faster transactions mean creators can reinvest earnings into equipment, advertising, or production more quickly. Lower fees help them keep more of what they earn. Global accessibility means creators in emerging markets where banking services may be limited can participate fully in the digital economy.

Visa’s new stablecoin payout system is more than just another way to send money. It is an important step toward creating a fairer and more accessible financial system for creators worldwide. By using stablecoins, Visa removes many of the delays and high fees that have slowed the creator industry for years. It brings more transparency, faster payments, and greater flexibility things traditional banking systems have not been able to provide.

As more companies begin using stablecoins for payments, creators could benefit from new tools such as automatic royalty sharing, instant payment tracking, and clearer dashboards that show all their earnings in one place. This trend also pushes other payment companies to improve their services and reduce unnecessary costs. For creators, this shift means having more control over their income and being able to manage their finances in a way that supports long-term growth. For the digital economy as a whole, Visa’s decision shows that we are moving toward a future where digital money that can be programmed and moved instantly becomes a normal part of everyday life.