Visa Partners with WeFi to Enable Stablecoin Payments via Self-Custody Wallets

Gate News message, April 29 — Visa announced a collaboration with WeFi, an on-chain banking platform founded by former Tether CEO Reeve Collins, to enable digital asset payments through self-custody infrastructure on Tuesday. Unlike centralized exchanges, WeFi’s architecture allows users to maintain control of their crypto assets while accessing Visa’s payment network.

WeFi co-founder and CEO Maksym Sakharov explained that stablecoins are embedded directly into the platform’s underlying infrastructure as part of a unified balance. “Users don’t manage conversions or interact with separate systems. Settlement happens in the background,” Sakharov told The Block. Collins added that the self-custody model addresses user preferences: “People really want to control their own funds and not leave them on exchanges or give up their keys.”

Initially, the partnership will focus on scaling stablecoin-based payments in selected markets across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, with further expansion dependent on regulatory approvals and partnerships. Visa’s Head of Product & Solutions in Europe, Mathieu Altwegg, stated: “As interest in digital assets grows, our focus is on making these new models practical at scale, by connecting them to payment experiences people already trust.”

The collaboration reflects broader industry momentum. Last month, Visa and Stripe-owned stablecoin firm Bridge announced plans to expand their stablecoin-linked card issuance product to over 100 countries.