Payments Landscape I: Stablecoin Money Movement (Virtual Instructor-Led)

Develop a foundational understanding of stablecoins and gain insight into the innovations shaping the future of digital currency and onchain payments. 

This course follows our blended learning model, which includes a mix of self-study and live instructor-led sessions. Learn more about blended learning. 

The course begins with two weeks of self-paced learning. Start by exploring the broader digital asset landscape, including cryptocurrencies, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and tokenized deposits, to understand how digital value is created and transferred on blockchain networks. Gain a basic understanding of how blockchains work, how smart contracts enable programmable payments and how stablecoins emerged to combine price stability with the speed and efficiency of onchain transactions. 

Next, build a clear understanding of what stablecoins are, how they maintain price stability and what distinguishes fiat-backed, crypto‑collateralized and algorithmic designs. Trace the growth of stablecoins in the global marketplace and discover why businesses, fintechs and financial institutions are increasingly evaluating onchain solutions for payments, remittances, treasury operations and new digital experiences. Explore common myths and misconceptions about stablecoins and gain clarity on their real capabilities and limitations. 

Then, dive deeper into how stablecoins work in practice. Study the minting and redemption process, different types of wallets, how users send and receive stablecoins and what happens during an onchain transaction. Learn about the role of blockchain networks — from Layer 1s to Layer 2s — and how speed, cost and scalability influence real-world payment use cases. Understand the key risks associated with stablecoins, including de-pegging, smart contract vulnerabilities and user safety considerations, and learn how organizations manage compliance, fraud prevention and transaction monitoring in an onchain environment. 

Continue by exploring the application of stablecoins in payments, including merchant acceptance, cross-border payouts, remittances and treasury use cases. Evaluate how stablecoins compare to traditional payment flows and where they introduce new opportunities for efficiency, speed and programmability. Understand the infrastructure that supports stablecoin movement, including on/off ramps, liquidity considerations and the emerging network of providers building onchain financial services. 

Conclude the self-paced learning section of the course with an overview of how Visa participates in the stablecoin and  ecosystem. Discover how Visa enables stablecoin settlement, supports partners exploring  payment flows and uses tools like Visa’s Onchain Analytics Dashboard to deliver insights. Through client case studies, see how financial institutions, fintechs and global platforms are leveraging stablecoins in real-world scenarios. 

During the live sessions with a Visa University trainer, you will be guided through hands-on case studies to deepen the foundational knowledge gained during the self-paced learning section of the course. These live sessions include activities, reflection, regional considerations and action planning, helping you apply what you have learned to your real-life work.  

Upon completion of the course, you will return to your role with a clear understanding of how stablecoins work, how they are being used today and how they may influence the future of payments, and will be ready to contribute to your organization’s strategy and adapt to this emerging area of innovation.