Western Union’s USDPT joins Visa’s settlement network
Your next card payment may look the same, but the settlement process behind it is changing.
Visa is adding Western Union’s USDPT as a settlement option on VisaNet through a partnership with Anchorage Digital announced on November 12, 2026. Visa and eligible partners can now settle their related obligations using the stablecoin—a crypto asset designed to track the value of a currency, in this case the US dollar.
What changes for VisaNet settlement?
The addition of USDPT concerns the settlement of obligations between Visa and its partners, not a broader change in how consumers pay. Banks and payment companies that issue cards or serve merchants regularly settle the amounts they owe through the VisaNet network.
Think of a card purchase at the supermarket: you see the approval on the POS terminal, but behind it are obligations between the organizations involved. That is where another settlement option is now being added. The announcement does not indicate that every Visa cardholder can use USDPT directly.
According to Unchained, USDPT joins USDC, USDG, EURC, PYUSD and SBC, which Visa said it supported for settlement in its October 27 earnings update.
Who issues USDPT, and what is Solana’s role?
USDPT launched on Solana in May and is issued for Western Union by Anchorage Digital Bank, a federally chartered US bank. Anchorage says the stablecoins it issues are fully backed by US dollars and cash equivalents and can be redeemed on a one-to-one basis.
USDPT was initially rolled out in the Philippines and Bolivia. Western Union plans to use it for round-the-clock settlement in more than 200 countries. This is an expansion plan, not confirmation that the service is already operating everywhere.
Although the token launched on Solana, the announcement does not specify which of Visa’s supported blockchains will be used for these settlements. We therefore do not assume that all related transfers will take place on Solana.
How much has Visa’s stablecoin use grown?
Visa’s annualized stablecoin settlement volume exceeded $25 billion in its October 27 update, according to Unchained. In September, the company had reported more than $20 billion.
The annualized figure shows what a full year would look like if the transaction pace at the time continued. It does not mean that $25 billion had already been settled during the year, or that the amount relates to USDPT.
Dan Roesbery, Visa’s vice president of global crypto partnerships, presented the addition as an expansion of its partners’ options. Anchorage CEO Nathan McCauley emphasized the need for a regulated institution behind the money, beyond the speed of transfers.
What remains unknown, and what does this mean for Greece?
The eligible partners, expected USDPT volumes and any specific rollout in the Greek market have not been announced. The agreement also calls for considering additional Anchorage stablecoins, with no timeline or confirmed next additions.
At Cryptonomy, we see the connection between stablecoins and existing payment networks as meaningful: the technology gains a concrete role behind everyday transactions. Still, we remain cautious about the scale of adoption until actual volumes and participants are disclosed. If you are in Greece, this news is currently more about payment infrastructure than a new option at checkout.