Visa is launching a Trusted Agent Protocol to protect merchants from fraudulent bots during transactions with AI agents. This protocol uses cryptographic signatures to verify trusted agents and secure transactions, allowing AI to make purchases on behalf of consumers. It aims to enhance confidence in the agentic commerce ecosystem.

On Black Friday, Visa reported blocking 280% more suspected fraudulent transactions in the UK compared to previous years. This reflects a stronger defense against fraud targeting shoppers during the holiday sales.

Visa is now offering advisory services to help clients navigate the use of stablecoins, responding to increased demand from financial institutions and merchants. Despite a growing interest, CEO Ryan McInerney believes stablecoins have limited consumer use in stable economies like the U.S.

Visa and Aldar have introduced a voice-enabled payment system through the Live Aldar app, allowing customers to pay real estate service charges via an AI agent. This new feature aims to streamline routine transactions and enhance user convenience while ensuring security and transparency.

Visa's Acceptance Platform now supports Tap to Pay on iPhones, allowing users to make contactless payments using their devices. This feature aims to enhance the payment experience for customers and merchants alike.

BVNK is teaming up with Visa to integrate stablecoin payments into Visa Direct's network. This partnership allows select business customers to use stablecoins for funding payouts, expanding options for global payments.

Acquired.com has integrated Visa A2A to enhance recurring and variable payment solutions. This collaboration allows businesses to process real-time account-to-account payments with clear customer consent, improving efficiency and reducing operational issues related to traditional methods like Direct Debit.

Amazon and Visa are collaborating to develop tools that enable software developers to create AI-driven shopping experiences. These tools aim to allow AI agents to make purchases autonomously, although specific launch dates are not yet provided. Other partners in this initiative include Expedia Group and Intuit.

Juspay is partnering with Visa to introduce Click to Pay in Brazil, aiming to reduce cart abandonment and enhance transaction security in e-commerce. The service allows customers to complete purchases with a single click, using tokenized credentials, thereby simplifying the checkout process. Advanced biometric authentication will also be incorporated for added security.

Visa has introduced USDC stablecoin settlement in the US, allowing banks to process transactions using Circle’s dollar-pegged stablecoin through blockchain technology. Cross River Bank and Lead Bank are piloting this service, which aims to enhance transaction speed and treasury efficiency. The move indicates a shift toward stablecoins becoming a standard tool for banks.

FIS has introduced a new platform that enables banks to engage in agentic commerce, allowing transactions initiated by AI agents. This service, developed in collaboration with Mastercard and Visa, aims to enhance security and streamline payment processes while reducing fraud. It will be available to FIS bank clients by the end of Q1 2026.

Truther is introducing a Visa card in El Salvador on January 29, allowing users to spend USDT directly from their self-custody wallets without preloading funds. The card features a 2% fee on currency conversions and no IOF tax for Brazilian users, aiming to simplify stablecoin transactions for travelers and crypto enthusiasts. Truther plans to expand its services to other Latin American countries in the near future.

Visa is set to implement a new fraud prevention and dispute management program, called Vamp, which will place more responsibility on merchants and their banks to combat fraud starting October 1. The program consolidates previous initiatives and introduces compliance standards that could lead to new fees and fines for merchants based on their fraud management performance. This shift aims to address rising fraud rates in digital transactions, particularly as friendly fraud disputes increase significantly.

Visa has participated in a $4.9 million Seed funding round for HoneyCoin, a stablecoin-compatible payment platform. HoneyCoin, which allows real-time payments and operates across over 45 markets, seeks to expand its team and enhance its services with the new capital. CEO David Nandwa envisions transforming financial infrastructure akin to Apple's impact on computing and Visa's on commerce.

Visa is exploring the integration of stablecoins into its payment systems, aiming to tap into the burgeoning $40 trillion credit market. The company believes that stablecoins could enhance transaction efficiency and reduce costs, providing a modern alternative to traditional payment methods. This shift aligns with the growing interest in cryptocurrencies and digital currencies across the financial landscape.

Cloudflare has joined forces with Visa, Mastercard, and American Express to establish payment frameworks for AI agents that autonomously conduct transactions. This collaboration aims to secure the burgeoning “agentic commerce” economy, enabling AI systems to make purchases on behalf of users using programmable money like stablecoins.

Visa has noted a modest increase in stablecoin adoption, highlighting the need for clear regulations in the sector. The company emphasizes the importance of regulatory clarity to foster growth and innovation in the use of stablecoins for payments.

Visa has launched the Trusted Agent Protocol to facilitate secure AI-driven transactions for users and merchants, addressing the challenges of agent-driven commerce. Developed in collaboration with Cloudfare, the protocol aims to distinguish trusted AI agents from malicious entities, enhancing trust in AI-initiated payments. Visa is collaborating with various partners to ensure seamless and secure transactions in the evolving landscape of AI commerce.

Visa continues to lead the digital payments space with its innovative product ecosystem and advanced processing network, VisaNet, which facilitates secure transactions globally. The company is expanding into new payment flows, including B2B and P2P, and enhancing security through initiatives like tokenization, while also providing value-added services to optimize customer experiences. With a commitment to facilitate commerce across over 200 countries, Visa aims to uplift everyone in their payment experiences.

Nikola Plecas has joined the TON Foundation to lead its global payments strategy, bringing extensive experience from his previous role at Visa Crypto. His appointment aims to enhance TON's mission of delivering decentralized services and accelerate its growth in the crypto space.

Visa has announced partnerships with Klarna and Zilch to launch innovative flexible debit cards that integrate various payment options, allowing consumers to choose their preferred payment method while shopping. The cards aim to provide a user-friendly experience and cater to the growing demand for accessible payment solutions among consumers, with a significant waitlist already established in the US.

Visa and Stripe have announced a partnership aimed at simplifying the integration of stablecoin payments into card transactions. This collaboration seeks to enhance the usability of stablecoin-based cards, potentially broadening their adoption in everyday transactions. As digital currencies gain traction, this initiative represents a significant step in bridging traditional finance with cryptocurrency solutions.

Rain has partnered with Visa to join a pilot program for stablecoin settlement, enabling onchain credit card transactions to settle in USDC year-round. This collaboration allows for more efficient capital management and enhances the utility of stablecoins in global payments, while also introducing innovative financing solutions for credit card receivables. Rain aims to integrate blockchain technology with traditional financial systems, improving payment accessibility and operational efficiency.

Spreedly has announced the integration of Just-In-Time Card Updates for Visa Cards, utilizing Visa Account Updater to provide merchants with real-time access to updated card credentials. This enhancement aims to reduce failed payments in recurring billing and subscription models, improving authorization rates, operational efficiency, and customer retention. The collaboration with Visa also includes broader integration efforts to enhance payment reliability for merchants.

Visa has partnered with Bridge to introduce stablecoin-backed Visa cards, enabling users to make purchases using stablecoins at any merchant that accepts Visa. The product will initially launch in several Latin American countries, allowing merchants to receive payments in local currencies. This collaboration aims to integrate stablecoins into Visa's existing payment network, enhancing consumer choice.