Visa and Nium pilot stablecoin settlement outside banking hours in Singapore

Visa and Singapore-based payments firm Nium are piloting stablecoin-based settlement designed to work beyond standard banking hours and business-day calendars, according to Fintech News Singapore and crypto.news. The test is being conducted under BLOOM, a Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) initiative aimed at modernizing payment infrastructure with digital assets. The goal is to evaluate whether stablecoins can help reduce settlement delays common in cross-border payments, where funds can remain in transit over weekends and holidays until banks reopen. Because stablecoins run on blockchain networks that operate 24/7, the pilot is positioned as a potential way to keep settlement moving when traditional rails pause. Visa has spent years exploring stablecoin infrastructure for payments and has previously used blockchain networks to transfer value between merchants and acquirers via digital dollar tokens. Nium’s participation points to an operational focus. The company provides cross-border payments infrastructure for banks and fintechs, suggesting the pilot is testing real-world settlement flows rather than a purely experimental concept. MAS has increasingly promoted a supervised approach to digital-asset infrastructure, running pilots across areas such as tokenized deposits, wholesale settlement, and stablecoin frameworks. BLOOM fits that broader pattern, supporting innovation while maintaining oversight. Key technical details have not been disclosed in available reporting, including which stablecoin or blockchain network is being used. Neither Visa nor Nium has published documentation on settlement volumes or timelines. Reports say the pilot is intended to test settlement capability outside normal business days, not to replace existing payment rails outright. Market impact: If the pilot succeeds, it could push other payment networks and banks to evaluate stablecoin settlement for time-sensitive corporate flows. MAS’s involvement may also reassure institutions that have been cautious about stablecoin exposure due to compliance concerns. For Visa, deeper stablecoin integration could strengthen its role in cross-border settlement infrastructure; for Nium, participation bolsters its positioning as a payments partner able to support digital-asset rails. Broader effects may depend on whether results are published and whether MAS expands BLOOM to more participants. FAQ - What is BLOOM? BLOOM is an MAS initiative focused on testing digital-asset infrastructure for payments. - What are Visa and Nium testing? Stablecoin-based settlement that operates beyond standard business days, targeting delays tied to bank calendars. - Why does settlement outside business days matter? Traditional rails often pause over weekends and holidays, delaying access to funds; stablecoins can operate continuously. - Has Visa worked with stablecoins before? Yes. Visa has previously explored blockchain-based settlement using stablecoins; this pilot is a MAS-supervised test in Singapore. - What role does Nium play? Nium provides cross-border payments infrastructure and its involvement suggests practical settlement use cases. Originally reported by AltcoinGordon, written by Olivia Hayes. Republished with permission.