Visa (NYSE: V) has joined a Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)-supported effort aimed at bridging conventional financial payment systems with those built around stablecoins. The initiative, known as BLOOM (Borderless, Liquid, Open, Online, Multi-currency), seeks to expand the settlement options available to banks and other institutions while testing greater interoperability between traditional rails and digital asset networks.
Announced on August 25, 2026, Visa’s participation centers on exploring how regulated stablecoins can support faster and more flexible settlement without compromising the security, resilience, and compliance standards that underpin global payments.
The program brings together industry players to examine practical ways financial institutions can gain the benefits of programmable and continuous money movement while retaining established safeguards.
As its first partner in the effort, Visa is working with payments firm Nium on a pilot that tests the use of stablecoins for settlement.
Current settlement processes generally operate only on standard business days, which can create delays for institutions needing access to funds.
The collaboration will investigate whether stablecoins can enable settlement activity seven days a week, including weekends and public holidays.
This approach could shorten waiting periods and improve operational efficiency for participating organizations.
The trial will focus on regulated stablecoins backed by major currencies, specifically those denominated in US dollars and euros.
By combining these instruments with Visa’s existing network, security protocols, and compliance framework, the partners aim to demonstrate how digital assets can complement rather than replace traditional infrastructure.
The goal is more efficient cross-border fund transfers that still operate within trusted systems.
For businesses, successful outcomes could translate into smoother handling of payments—sending, receiving, and managing funds with fewer interruptions.
Consumers may eventually experience more seamless transactions, regardless of whether the underlying technology relies on conventional banking channels or stablecoin rails.
Interoperability between different forms of money is viewed as increasingly important as digital payments continue to evolve.
Adeline Kim, Visa’s Group Country Manager for Regional Southeast Asia, noted that the company is examining how stablecoins can enhance existing payment infrastructure.
The pilot with Nium in Singapore, she indicated, allows exploration of greater settlement flexibility while upholding the standards that support global commerce.
Interoperability, she added, will be essential for delivering value across the broader financial ecosystem.
BLOOM itself was introduced by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to support industry experimentation with tokenized bank liabilities and regulated stablecoins.
It reflects Singapore’s ongoing work to modernize payment systems and foster collaboration between traditional finance and digital asset innovations.
Other institutions have also engaged with the initiative as it develops common approaches and infrastructure for more advanced cross-border capabilities.
Visa’s involvement builds on its wider activities in the stablecoin space, including earlier settlement pilots and efforts to integrate digital assets into its network.
The BLOOM pilot specifically highlights the potential for continuous settlement cycles that better match the always-on nature of modern commerce.
By pairing a major global payments network with a specialized cross-border provider under regulatory guidance, the project offers a practical test of how traditional finance and stablecoin systems can operate together. Results from the trial may inform future standards and help institutions adapt to evolving payment demands while maintaining trust and regulatory alignment.