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Will Visa's BLOOM Initiative Give It an Edge in Digital Payments?
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Key Takeaways
Visa joins Singapore's BLOOM initiative to pilot stablecoin-based settlement with Nium.
Visa's pilot could enable seven-day settlement, improving liquidity and efficiency in cross-border payments.
V's participation could help shape interoperability standards between traditional and digital payment systems.
Visa Inc. (V - Free Report) is expanding its presence in the evolving digital-payments ecosystem by joining BLOOM (Borderless, Liquid, Open, Online, Multi-currency), an initiative led by the Monetary Authority of Singapore to connect traditional payment infrastructure with stablecoin-based rails. The move reflects V’s efforts to adapt its network to emerging forms of money while maintaining the security and compliance standards that underpin its global payments business.
Under BLOOM, V and Nium will pilot stablecoin-based settlement using regulated stablecoins backed by major currencies, including U.S. dollar- and euro-backed stablecoins. The initiative aims to enable settlement seven days a week, including weekends and public holidays, addressing delays associated with conventional business-day settlement cycles. Faster settlement could improve liquidity management and efficiency for financial institutions involved in cross-border payments.
The development is particularly relevant as Visa continues to build its stablecoin capabilities. In April 2026, it reported an annualized stablecoin settlement run rate of $7 billion and expanded support to nine blockchains as stablecoin-based settlement gains traction. Visa’s approach of connecting emerging blockchain-based rails with its established network could help it participate in digital-asset growth without abandoning its existing payments infrastructure.
For V, BLOOM could create longer-term opportunities in cross-border settlement and institutional money movement as stablecoins gain broader acceptance. However, the initiative remains at the pilot stage. Still, Visa’s participation gives the company an opportunity to help shape standards for interoperability between traditional and digital payment systems, potentially strengthening its competitive position as the payments industry evolves.
How Are Competitors Faring?
Some of V’s competitors in the payments space include Mastercard Incorporated (MA - Free Report) and American Express Company (AXP - Free Report) .
Mastercard plans to expand its settlement capabilities to include additional intraday, weekend and holiday card settlement, potentially enabling faster access to funds. The move, alongside its stablecoin initiatives, could strengthen MA’s role in modernizing cross-border payments and settlement infrastructure.
American Express is also exploring blockchain-based payment opportunities, including stablecoin technology aimed at improving settlement efficiency. Its participation in the Open USD initiative and growing focus on blockchain partnerships could help AXP modernize its payments infrastructure while complementing its premium customer-focused business model.
Visa’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Over the past year, shares of Visa have risen 9.6% against the industry’s 10.4% fall.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Visa trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 25.95, well above the industry average of 19.58. V carries a Value Score of D.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Visa’s fiscal 2026 earnings implies a 14.7% jump from the year-ago period.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Will Visa's BLOOM Initiative Give It an Edge in Digital Payments?
Key Takeaways
Visa Inc. (V - Free Report) is expanding its presence in the evolving digital-payments ecosystem by joining BLOOM (Borderless, Liquid, Open, Online, Multi-currency), an initiative led by the Monetary Authority of Singapore to connect traditional payment infrastructure with stablecoin-based rails. The move reflects V’s efforts to adapt its network to emerging forms of money while maintaining the security and compliance standards that underpin its global payments business.
Under BLOOM, V and Nium will pilot stablecoin-based settlement using regulated stablecoins backed by major currencies, including U.S. dollar- and euro-backed stablecoins. The initiative aims to enable settlement seven days a week, including weekends and public holidays, addressing delays associated with conventional business-day settlement cycles. Faster settlement could improve liquidity management and efficiency for financial institutions involved in cross-border payments.
The development is particularly relevant as Visa continues to build its stablecoin capabilities. In April 2026, it reported an annualized stablecoin settlement run rate of $7 billion and expanded support to nine blockchains as stablecoin-based settlement gains traction. Visa’s approach of connecting emerging blockchain-based rails with its established network could help it participate in digital-asset growth without abandoning its existing payments infrastructure.
For V, BLOOM could create longer-term opportunities in cross-border settlement and institutional money movement as stablecoins gain broader acceptance. However, the initiative remains at the pilot stage. Still, Visa’s participation gives the company an opportunity to help shape standards for interoperability between traditional and digital payment systems, potentially strengthening its competitive position as the payments industry evolves.
How Are Competitors Faring?
Some of V’s competitors in the payments space include Mastercard Incorporated (MA - Free Report) and American Express Company (AXP - Free Report) .
Mastercard plans to expand its settlement capabilities to include additional intraday, weekend and holiday card settlement, potentially enabling faster access to funds. The move, alongside its stablecoin initiatives, could strengthen MA’s role in modernizing cross-border payments and settlement infrastructure.
American Express is also exploring blockchain-based payment opportunities, including stablecoin technology aimed at improving settlement efficiency. Its participation in the Open USD initiative and growing focus on blockchain partnerships could help AXP modernize its payments infrastructure while complementing its premium customer-focused business model.
Visa’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Over the past year, shares of Visa have risen 9.6% against the industry’s 10.4% fall.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Visa trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 25.95, well above the industry average of 19.58. V carries a Value Score of D.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Visa’s fiscal 2026 earnings implies a 14.7% jump from the year-ago period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Visa stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.