Visa integrates five new blockchains including Arc and Base into its stablecoin settlement pilot, reaching a $7 billion annualized run rate while advancing institutional-grade cryptographic infrastructure.
The architecture of global finance is shifting toward a decentralized model as Visa announced the expansion of its stablecoin settlement pilot to five additional blockchains. By integrating Arc, Base, Canton, Polygon, and Tempo, the payment giant now supports nine distinct networks, signaling a significant move toward multi-chain interoperability. This expansion comes as the program reaches a $7 billion annualized settlement run rate, reflecting a 50% increase since the previous quarter.
From a sovereign technology perspective, the inclusion of Circle’s Arc and Coinbase’s Base highlights a push for high-performance, programmable infrastructure capable of handling real-time economic activity. Arc, a Layer-1 blockchain, is currently scaling toward a 2026 production-ready status. Its public testnet has already processed over 150 million transactions with settlement times of approximately 0.5 seconds. These metrics suggest that decentralized protocols are beginning to match the throughput requirements of legacy financial systems without sacrificing the security of on-chain settlement.
Privacy and regulatory compliance remain central to this digital transition. The Canton Network, one of the newly added chains, utilizes configurable cryptography designed specifically for regulated capital markets. This allows institutional users to maintain the privacy of sensitive transaction data while leveraging the transparency and immutability of a shared ledger. Similarly, the Stripe-backed Tempo protocol focuses on the efficient movement of liquidity through private settlement flows, addressing a critical need for confidentiality in institutional commerce.
As Big Tech firms allocate nearly $700 billion toward AI and digital infrastructure in 2026, the engineering behind these blockchain upgrades serves as a vital counterweight to centralized corporate overreach. By enabling stablecoins to function as a settlement layer across diverse protocols, the industry is moving toward a standard where transaction fees can be paid in native stablecoins and liquidity is no longer siloed within a single ecosystem. This decentralized engineering ensures that American digital leadership remains rooted in open, competitive protocols rather than closed proprietary networks.
The expansion also leverages existing institutional partnerships with entities such as BlackRock and Goldman Sachs, further legitimizing the use of USDC and other digital assets in mainstream payment flows. As these protocols evolve, the focus remains on building a robust, always-on financial infrastructure that operates independently of traditional banking hours, providing a necessary upgrade to the nation’s aging financial rails.
Ryan Mitchell serves as a Staff Writer for Just Right News, where he anchors the desk for Cyber, Technology Policy, and Digital Sovereignty. In an era where the digital landscape has become as much a battlefield as any physical territory, Ryan provides a critical conservative lens on the forces shaping the future of American innovation and national security. His work is defined by a commitment to the idea that American leadership in the digital age is not just a matter of economic success, but a necessity for the preservation of global liberty.
Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Ryan’s perspective is deeply rooted in the Lone Star State’s tradition of independence and skepticism of centralized authority. Growing up in a city that transformed from a quiet state capital into a global technology hub, he witnessed firsthand the disruptive power of the tech industry. This upbringing instilled in him a firm belief in free-market principles and the necessity of protecting individual liberties from both government overreach and corporate overstep. His Texan background serves as a foundational compass, guiding his reporting toward stories that emphasize national resilience and the preservation of constitutional values in an increasingly virtual world.
Now based in San Francisco, California, Ryan operates from the epicenter of the very industry he scrutinizes. Living and working in the heart of Silicon Valley allows him to provide “boots on the ground” reporting that few conservative journalists can match. He navigates the cultural and political complexities of the Bay Area to bring Just Right News readers an inside look at the boardrooms and coding labs where the next generation of digital policy is forged. For Ryan, being stationed in San Francisco is a strategic choice; it allows him to challenge the prevailing ideological monoculture of the tech elite from within their own backyard, ensuring that the concerns of middle America are represented in the conversation about our digital future.
His beat—Cyber, Technology Policy, and Digital Sovereignty—covers the high-stakes world of data privacy, artificial intelligence, and the infrastructure of the modern web. Ryan is particularly focused on the concept of digital sovereignty, arguing that for a nation to remain truly free, it must maintain control over its own technological destiny and critical infrastructure. He frequently explores how international regulations and domestic policies impact the ability of American firms to compete without sacrificing the privacy or security of their citizens.
Central to his current body of work is his featured series, “The New Cold War.” Through this project, Ryan examines the escalating technological rivalry between the United States and its global adversaries. He delves into the complexities of state-sponsored hacking, the global race for semiconductor dominance, and the ideological struggle to define the rules of the internet. Ryan views this competition not merely as a commercial race, but as a fundamental defense of Western values against authoritarian digital models. Through his rigorous reporting and principled analysis, Ryan Mitchell ensures that the readers of Just Right News stay informed about the invisible forces defining the 21st century, always advocating for a future where technology serves the cause of freedom.