Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Karsten Wenzlaff is a Crowdfunding and Fintech Expert from Germany. He is Secretary-General of Digit[...]
Category Archives: Voices
Bezos Co-Leads New Project Prometheus AI Venture
AI | Nov 18, 2025
AI generated image
Jeff Bezos Returns to Operating Role at Project Prometheus to Push AI Into Real World Engineering and Manufacturing.
On November 17, 2025, a Reuters report on Bezos taking an operating role at Project Prometheus stated that Jeff Bezos will return to an operating job as co-chief executive of a new artificial intelligence company called Project Prometheus. The new venture has raised $6.2 billion in early stage funding, partly from Bezos, which makes it one of the best financed startups globally.
The company focuses on artificial intelligence for engineering and manufacturing in computers, automobiles and spacecraft, moving frontier AI from pure text/image/voice tools and into factories, vehicles and hardware design. For Canadian fintech firms, banks and regulators, connecting data, machines and capital in new physical AI ways forces fresh thinking about AI innovation, opportunity, and competitiveness.
Bezos Steps Back Into AI Leadership
Jeff Bezos left his chief executive role at Amazon in 2021 to spend more time on Blue Origin and other ventures. Now he decides to lead operations again at Project Prometheus together with Vik Bajaj, a physicist and chemist who helped build Google X projects and later helped found Verily and Foresite Labs. A team that links deep science, hardware and long term capital.
See: Canada Risks Falling Behind as UK Lands AI Megadeals
Several media outlets report that the company already employs around one hundred specialists from OpenAI, DeepMind and Meta. This is the type of recruitment drive for founders who are all in, so Project Prometheus is definitely not a side project, as they look to build a flagship platform that will advanced AI systems for the physical economy. Canadian companies who currently work on industrial AI, climate solutions or financial infrastructure now compete with Bezos and Bajaj's vision and funding scale when they pitch global investors.
Physical Economy AI And Converging Systems
The company aims to build models that learn from digital data and from the behaviour of real machines. These models can support design and production for chips, vehicles and spacecraft. They can also connect with logistics networks, maintenance data and energy systems. This approach turns AI into a tool that strives to understand how real assets move, trade and operate.
Canada needs to pay close attention because our industrial base still anchors much of our export story. Statistics Canada says that in 2023 about 7% of businesses with five or more employees used AI tools, up from 4% in 2021, in the Statistics Canada analysis of AI use by Canadian businesses. This number may look small now but it's only going to grows steadily.
Canada also brings global strengths that matter for this new era. A CIFAR and Deloitte analysis of Canada AI talent and funding shows Canada ranks third in the G7 for per capita venture funding for AI companies and leads the group in AI talent concentration growth. This combination of rising adoption, research depth and capital formation gives Canada a strong hand.
See: Inside the Feedback Loops Driving AI Failure
Project Prometheus will strengthen the link between AI, machines and markets. When an AI system designs a satellite, a vehicle platform or an energy module, it also creates new information for trade finance, insurance pricing and project valuation. Fintech firms that support equipment finance, trade and logistics, carbon markets or space related infrastructure will need to understand both software and engineering. This convergence creates new opportunities for Canadian platforms that work with industrial data, supply chain finance, carbon measurement or advanced insurance models.
Insights For Fintech Infrastructure And Banking
A BIS Financial Stability Institute paper on AI and third party risk explains that the concentration of cloud and AI service providers in a few large technology firms strengthens the case for direct oversight frameworks for those providers. That warning applies directly to any bank or fintech firm that relies on a small set of AI platforms like Project Prometheus.
Canadian supervisors already look closely at these questions. An OSFI and FCAC risk report on AI uses and risks in financial institutions shows how model errors, cyber threats and dependence on outside providers raise real concerns. The report also lays out practical steps that institutions can take through stronger governance, clear accountability and regular testing. This guidance becomes more important as companies like Project Prometheus build AI tools that influence real assets. In those cases financial institutions do more than install software. They connect their balance sheets to systems that interact with factories, power grids and space infrastructure.
See: Budget 2025 Accelerates Fintech, AI, and Capital Growth
Banks and fintech firms in Canada face a world where big AI companies connect software to machines, logistics and energy networks. Most financial institutions cannot build systems on that scale but they can build or fine tune smaller AI models that reflect their own data, their own customers and their own risk frameworks. They can also enter partnerships with large AI providers with clear conditions that protect their control over data, risk models and client outcomes.
Canada's federal Budget 2025 (just won confidence vote) strengthens this landscape because it funds national industrial projects that modernize energy systems, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing and trade corridors. Canada lists the first round of Major Projects Office proposals in a detailed announcement of initial national industrial projects under consideration. The federal plan builds on that list with a second tranche of new large scale projects in clean energy, transportation and processing.
These investments create the physical base that real economy AI systems need. When Canada strengthens energy supply, logistics networks and advanced manufacturing, it gives domestic fintechs, lenders and asset managers room to design AI powered financial products tied to real projects in Canada. This connection matters because AI that shapes chips, satellites or factory layouts increases demand for project finance, equipment leasing, structured credit and supply chain platforms. Canadian fintechs can step into those roles when they align their products with national industrial priorities and work with banks, regulators and investors to support the firms that build in the physical economy.
Why It Matters
Project Prometheus spotlights AIs new phase where software, machines and finance converge. Canada already holds strong cards in AI research, talent, and new generational industrial investment projects, but those strengths will matter only if fintech firms, banks, regulators, government, and investors act together. They need to push adoption inside Canadian firms, align regulation with innovation and design funding models that support ambitious industrial AI projects at home.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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OpenAI Launches Group Chat Pilot Shared Intelligence
AI Innovation | Nov 17, 2025
AI generated image
OpenAI Launches Shared Space For Human and AI Collaboration
On November 13 2025, OpenAI launched group chats in ChatGPT, a pilot feature that allows multiple users and ChatGPT to share one conversation in pursuit of 'shared intelligence'. The pilot began in Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan across Free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans. The company OpenAI says the feature makes it easy for people to collaborate with each other and with ChatGPT in the same conversation.
Group chats support up to twenty (20) participants with image generation, file sharing, search, and voice input. The system uses GPT 5.1 Auto to select the best model for each prompt. OpenAI confirmed that personal ChatGPT memory is never shared and that group interactions remain separate from private conversations.
Shared Intelligence to Impact Decision-Making
Shared intelligence could change how teams capture and process information. According to a 2025 analysis of generative AI productivity and economic potential, integrated AI systems already improve knowledge worker output by 15% to 30% across major sectors. When teams include AI directly in discussion, duplication can drop, consensus can form faster, and complete records of decisions can be created automatically.
For fintechs, this can mean faster product design, simpler compliance, and clearer investor communication.
See: Study Finds ChatGPT Weakens Memory and Focus
The change also raises questions about accountability. When AI helps a team reach conclusions, who owns the reasoning and who confirms its accuracy?
The implications extend beyond efficiency. The way AI interacts in a group may influence which ideas get attention. Teams should keep transparency in mind so AI remains a guide and not an unseen decision maker.
Governance and Transparency
Canada explored rules for transparency fairness and accountability in the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act which was part of Bill C-27 but it didn't pass before Parliament prorogued so the framework is not in force. NCFA Canada's article on EU AI transparency rules explains how new European transparency requirements can inform Canadian policy discussions. The rise of multi participant AI spaces like group chats brings these questions forward in practical ways.
OpenAI explains in the announcement that group chats are separate from private conversations and that each person controls who can join see the history or leave at any time. However, the company hasn't stated whether or not combined group chats will be used to improve future models (read: yes, of course it will).
See: ChatGPT Launches RECORD for Live Transcription | ChatGPT Creator Tells Us What Is Coming Next
For fintech firms and regulators alike this latest innovation creates a new conversation about privacy and shared decision tools. It could also prompt review by agencies such as the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions and the Canadian Securities Administrators on the expectations for audit consent and oversight in shared AI environments where many people view the same model output at the same time.
Risks of Collective Reasoning
Shared intelligence can support teamwork but it also introduces risks. Research shows that digital tools can increase group pressure when an automated system gives the first idea, people may follow it instead of challenging it.
This has been highlighted in a 2024 review on digital collaboration bias (for GenZ) which found that automated cues can influence group judgment. When AI participates in a group, a confident early answer can impact the scope and direction of discussion. In business and policy settings this can lead to faster but sometimes weaker reasoning. In regulated sectors such as financial technology, groupthink sparks questions about traceability and clarity and who owns the final decision.
While OpenAI keeps group chats separate from personal memory, uses invitations, and gives people control over the tools, these steps can't replace good human practice (just yet). Teams should still help themselves by asking for different views, inviting questions, and noting why choices were made when AI is involved. This helps keep decisions strong and makes sure people stay responsible for the final choice.
A Step Closer to Humans and AI Thinking Together
The arrival of group chats in ChatGPT is an early pilot of shared intelligence where people and AI reason together in a transparent social setting.
Read: Good, Bad, and Ugly of Project Strawberry’s Capabilities (loss of human autonomy)
As AI moves from a private assistant to a group collaborator, it's time for Canada and global stakeholders to ensure shared intelligence is designed in such a way that it strengthens collective decision-making and trust in both the process and outcome.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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J.P. Morgan Launches First Public USD Deposit Token
Digital Money | Nov 12, 2025
Image: Freepik/Pikisuperstar
J.P. Morgan Becomes First Bank to Issue a Deposit Token on a Public Blockchain
On November 12, 2025, J.P. Morgan announced that it had become the first major bank to issue a USD deposit token on a public blockchain. The new JPM Coin (ticker JPMD) allows institutional clients to send and receive funds instantly using Base, the Ethereum Layer 2 network developed by Coinbase.
The project follows successful testing in June of this year with B2C2, Coinbase, and Mastercard, which achieved real-time issuance and redemption of the token. The initiative is led by Kinexys by J.P. Morgan, the bank’s blockchain division that has built digital financial infrastructure since 2015.
Why J.P. Morgan is Leading This Transformation
J.P. Morgan’s motivation goes beyond efficiency. By placing regulated deposits directly on a public chain, the bank is positioning itself for the next era of interoperable digital finance. Its clients can now settle cross-border trades, treasury flows, and digital asset transactions onchain, with the reliability and security of a regulated deposit. This model combines bank-grade security with blockchain’s speed and transparency.
See: Bank-Issued Deposit Tokens Emerge and JP Morgan Sees Them Going DeFi
Rather than competing with stablecoins, J.P. Morgan is building a framework where traditional deposits become programmable financial instruments, integrated with smart contracts.
The launch shows how large banks are implementing strategies for digital money. For global institutions, it reduces the friction of moving funds across time zones and platforms, offering constant access to liquidity and settlement.
By offering instant, always-on settlement and programmable deposits backed by a regulated bank, J.P. Morgan is setting a new standardfor how traditional finance can participate safely in the digital asset economy while maintaining oversight and trust.
Lessons for Canada’s Regulators
For Canada, J.P. Morgan’s approach provides a clear case study as the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) and the Bank of Canada (BoC) advance their own stablecoin policy framework. If Canada adopts similar standards for CAD-denominated deposit tokens, it could enable cheaper, faster settlements while maintaining full regulatory oversight.
See: VersaBank USA Launches Tokenized Deposits Pilot
There's also an opportunity for Canadian fintechs to collaborate with banks on compliant blockchain payment rails. Domestic players like Interac and major banks may soon face competitive pressure if global stablecoin transactions become a new standard. This type of regulatory model would allow Canadian financial institutions to issue tokenized deposits that preserve trust while keeping innovation local.
How Deposit Tokens Could Impact Payment Payment Economics
Once Canadian regulators establish clarity around digital deposits, the cost of settlement could fall dramatically. Current payment systems such as e-Interac and card networks, rely on intermediaries that add delay and cost. Regulated tokens could settle value directly between wallets within seconds, removing several layers of friction.
While this could reduce traditional fee income, it also supports innovation and opens new business models.
See: Corporate Crypto Treasuries Cross $137B as DATCos Multiply
Banks could earn from providing liquidity, token custody, or smart contract services. Fintechs could integrate programmable money into real-time lending, payroll, or cross-border commerce.
If Canada aligns with international standards, the combination of stable onchain settlement and regulatory assurance could strengthen national competitiveness and attract global capital.
Outlook
J.P. Morgan’s entry into public blockchain payments proves that regulated institutions can safely participate in decentralized finance while meeting compliance standards. The ability to move regulated value instantly across borders could help Canadian firms compete globally, expand access to capital, and reinforce confidence in digital finance.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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Take Part in the Global AI in Finance 2030 Survey
Artificial Intelligence | Nov 7, 2025
NCFA Partners With Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance to Support a Global Effort On How AI is Changing Finance
On November 4, 2025 the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) at Cambridge Judge Business School launched the AI in Financial Services 2030 Global Survey in collaboration with the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Bank for International Settlements, and the World Economic Forum.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association of Canada (NCFA) is happy to support this initiative as a survey partner inviting all professionals working in fintechs, banks, and other financial institutions to share their insights on how artificial intelligence is being planned, adopted, and managed across the sector. The survey takes about 25 minutes and explores governance, strategy, technology use, risk, and expectations for how AI will influence financial services by 2030.
See: How PhD-Level AI Agents Will Change Financial Services
This global initiative aims to build the most complete evidence base on AI’s real-world use in financial services. Findings will inform international policy and guide how innovation and regulation can support trust, access to capital, and sustainable growth.
By contributing, respondents will help ensure that fintech perspectives and diverse experiences are reflected in the data driving decisions at both policy and industry levels. The results will provide valuable benchmarks for AI adoption and readiness across different markets and institutions.
Take the Survey Now
Take part in the Industry Survey for Fintechs and Financial Institutions: Access the AI in Financial Services 2030 Industry Survey
Other versions of the survey are available for regulators and AI vendors.
AI is moving incredibly fast, and this study gives everyone in the financial sector a chance to ground the conversation in real data and practical experience. By taking part, you’re helping ensure that future innovation in finance is guided by insight, accountability, and inclusion, values shared across the NCFA community.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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Applications Now Open For 2026 CIX Startup Awards!
CIX | Nov 6, 2025
Image courtesy of CIX
Canada’s Top Startup Awards 2026 CIX Accepting Applications Until November 30
Applications have officially opened for the 2026 CIX Startup Awards, one of Canada’s most respected platforms for emerging and growth-stage companies. Run by the Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX), the program celebrates leading tech startups that that create commercial or social value. A panel of more than 100 North American investors selects the winners, giving founders direct access to some of the most influential decision-makers in the industry.
See: Canada: Budget 2021’s Impact On The Canadian Financial Sector
Recognition through CIX can change everything for a young company. 78% of past winners that were raising capital secured funding within six months, and 86% within a year. On top of that, award recipients reported gaining roughly 35% more customers and partnerships globally after being featured. Those are the kinds of outcomes that make CIX a launchpad rather than just another award.
Who Can Apply
CIX is open to startups that are incorporated and headquartered in Canada. Companies must be privately held and not listed on any exchange. To be eligible, startups should have a strong technology foundation and a functional prototype or product already in the market. The company’s founder or CEO must also be available to present in person at the summit.
- Be a Startup incorporated and headquartered in Canada
- Be privately held and not listed on any exchanges anywhere in the world
- Have a unique/disruptive/innovative idea that leverages technology to create commercial or social value
See: 12 Market Entry Approaches for Fintech Startups
- Have a functional prototype (at minimum) of the product, service or application (must be in market, can be pre-revenue)
- The company CEO or Founder must be available to present live at CIX, in-person, March 25, 2026 in downtown Toronto
Timeline for 2026
- Applications Open November 3, 2025
- Applications Close November 30, 2025
- Winners Notified January 2026
- Press Announcement By end of January 2026
What Winners Receive
Each winning startup is invited to present live at CIX Summit 2026 in downtown Toronto on March 25, 2026. The experience includes exclusive one-on-one investor meetings, three complimentary passes to the summit, and a dedicated meeting table to connect with potential partners and clients. Winners are permanently listed on the CIX website and often featured in national media, expanding their credibility and visibility far beyond the event itself.
Apply Before November 30
CIX has earned its reputation as a gateway to investors and growth. While it's great to be recognized, it's about visibility, validation, and opportunity. For many founders, presenting at CIX is the moment when their startup story reaches the right audience. With no cost to apply and a process that takes about twenty minutes, the upside is significant. If you’re building something innovative and ready to take the next step, this is your chance to get noticed.
👉 Apply now through the official CIX website
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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Why Marketing Leaders Must Put Impact First: Insights From Nathalie Kyriakou
Nov 5, 2025
Image: Unsplash/Markus Winkler
Being a leader is seldom about being the loudest voice in a room. More often, it’s about the impact you create. True leadership isn’t measured by notoriety, but the difference your work makes in people’s lives and communities.
These lessons are frequently ignored in an industry often incentivized by measures and accolades. But for marketing and communications specialist, Nathalie Kyriakou, marketing at its best is about serving people, not egos.
A Career Marked by Purpose
Nathalie has over 20 years of industry experience and a reputation for leading with empathy and clarity. She has worked in many fields, including technology, finance, and consumer goods, consistently helping people understand and utilize complex concepts.
Whether transforming a brand or helping teams discover their shared purpose, Nathalie approaches leadership as a service. Consequently, she has often been effective at launching initiatives that enrich people’s lives.
The Power of Meaningful Influence
Contemporary marketing often rewards visibility. But in truth, changes that occur without fanfare tend to be the most enduring. Leaders who focus on impact rather than attention tend to create stronger, more robust organizations. That’s because they generally care about the organization as a whole instead of personal accolades.
Nathalie’s own philosophy mirrors this principle. For her, leadership is about hearing, evolving, and truly understanding what people need. This mindset encourages her teams to rally around missions that counted for others, as opposed to missions geared toward meeting metrics.
Purpose-Driven Innovation at Nolos
As the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Nolos, Nathalie follows that same mentality. A Montreal-based LegalTech and Fintech company, Nolos is dedicated to making legal and financial services easier to access and easier to understand.
See: 12 Market Entry Approaches for Fintech Startups
Under Nathalie’s leadership, marketing campaigns become more than brand building—they also empower families. Whether through financial videos that help people make better financial decisions or marketing campaigns that create clarity in legal processes, Nolos is committed to serving the greater good.
The alignment between message and mission is when marketing leadership is most meaningful. By intentionally focusing on people, Nathalie builds audiences while strengthening trust. Instead of focusing on metrics, she measures her work by its contribution to helping others feel more secure about their future.
Leading Beyond the Workplace
True impact isn’t limited to professional settings. Apart from her work at Nolos, Nathalie dedicates time to community work in education, family support, and access to services. By imbuing her corporate and personal lives with empathy for the family’s purpose, she practices a brand of leadership that creates opportunities for others.
A New Model for Marketing Leadership
In an industry traditionally framed around influence and persuasion, Nathalie Kyriakou is an example of how marketing can be a form of service to others. By imbuing strategy with empathy and accountability, she creates a framework for sustaining impact beyond mere impressions and entertainment.
Nathalie reminds us that leaders who prioritize impact tend to create work that lasts. By focusing on a common purpose, marketing leaders can develop campaigns that engage, messages that empower, and teams that thrive.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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Visa Extends Stablecoin Settlement to Four Blockchains
Stablecoins | Nov 4, 2025
Visa Adds Multi-chain Stablecoin Support Across Four Blockchains and 25 Fiat Currencies
On October 28, 2025, Visa CEO Ryan McInerney told investors in a Visa Q4 earnings call (22 page PDF) that the company is adding support for four stablecoins operating on four distinct blockchains across two currencies, with conversion to more than 25 fiat currencies. He said Visa’s stablecoin-linked card spend has quadrupled over the past year, with monthly settlement volumes reaching an annualized $2.5 billion. So now we can all expect to have access to embedded digital currency settlement directly into its global treasury and FX systems.
See: Stablecoin Payments Have Wings – Are You Ready?
Visa’s public Onchain Analytics Dashboard reports more than US $9.6 trillion in adjusted transaction volume, over 10 billion transactions, and an average stablecoin supply above US $221 billion across Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, and Avalanche. The numbers confirm that fiat-backed stablecoins are already a growing part of daily global payments.
Based on Visa’s earlier pilot programs using USDC on Ethereum and Solana, it is reasonable to expect these networks to be among the four blockchains involved, though earnings call transcript doesn't name specific stablecoins or chains.
From Pilot to Platform
Visa’s expansion is a transition from testing digital currency settlement to making it part of its core infrastructure. The company is linking stablecoins to its global treasury and FX networks, allowing conversion between digital assets and traditional currencies without adding new intermediaries. So stablecoins will become programmable tools for cross-border settlement and liquidity management.
See: Amazon and Walmart Exploring Merchant-Led Stablecoins
Ryan McInerney, Visa CEO:
“We are adding support for four stablecoins, running on four unique blockchains, representing two currencies, that we can accept and convert to over 25 traditional fiat currencies. Our digital currency work builds on our core competencies — connecting buyers and sellers, securing payments, and enabling interoperability across currencies and networks.”
Fintechs and financial institutions should take notice because Visa is not just planning to accept stablecoins as a form of payment, it's building a bridge between regulated banking infrastructure and onchain finance. Visa’s integration also provides a compliance template that shows how large-scale financial networks can handle digital assets safely within existing frameworks.
Cross-border Growth and Enterprise Adoption
Visa’s financial results strengthen the case why stablecoin settlement is strategically important. According to Visa’s investor materials, cross-border payment volume grew 10% year over year in Q4 2025, driven by travel and international eCommerce. Total revenue reached US $9.2 billion, up 9%, with payment volume increasing 8% on a constant-dollar basis.
Stablecoins fit naturally into this picture. They can move value instantly across borders, reducing settlement friction and costs for businesses that operate in multiple currencies. For enterprises, corporates, and fintechs, Visa’s model offers a regulated approach to use stablecoins for treasury, payroll, and remittances at scale.
See: Ripple Acquires Rail for $200M to Boost Stablecoin Payments
Visa’s partnerships with digital wallets, neobanks, and blockchain platforms extend its reach into Web3 commerce while maintaining the dispute resolution and identity safeguards that make card networks trusted globally.
McInerney emphasized continued collaboration with policymakers and central banks to ensure that new payment models meet regulatory expectations while delivering tangible economic benefits.
Outlook
For Canada, Visa's approach of blending real world payments with programmable finance is a framework offering lessons on how to connect open banking, digital money regulation, and cross-border innovation at scale and under clear governance.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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