Visa launches platform to help banks use fiat backed tokens
Central banks don't want to loose control over their currencies so fiat backed tokens are one way to achieve that.
Key takeaways
- Currently available in a test environment, Visa says it plans to support live programmes next year when participating banks are ready to launch with end customers.
- The product is designed to let banks use their tokens within smart contracts for programmability.
- For example, says Visa, a bank could automate the administering of complex lines of credit using smart contracts and use fiat-backed tokens to release payments when terms are met.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2025) 'Visa launches platform to help banks use fiat backed tokens', 311 Institute, 19 April. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/visa-launches-platform-to-help-banks-use-fiat-backed-tokens/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
As we see central banks mulling the idea of fiat backed tokenised assets, in part so they still remain relevant in the future where crypto currencies and other digital assets become more common place, the Visa Tokenised Asset Platform ( VTAP) lets participating financial institution partners mint, burn and transfer fiat-backed tokens, such as tokenised deposits and stablecoins, and experiment with use cases.
Currently available in a test environment, Visa says it plans to support live programmes next year when participating banks are ready to launch with end customers.
The product is designed to let banks use their tokens within smart contracts for programmability. For example, says Visa, a bank could automate the administering of complex lines of credit using smart contracts and use fiat-backed tokens to release payments when terms are met.
The Future of Banking and Payments, by Futurist Speaker Matthew Griffin
The payments giant also stresses its focus on interoperability across different blockchains for banks using the platform. With a single API connection to VTAP, in the future, banks can enable multiple use cases and interact with partners and clients on both permissioned and public blockchains.
Vanessa Colella, global head, innovation and digital partnerships, Visa, says: “We're excited to leverage our experience with tokenization to help banks integrate blockchain technologies into their operations.”
Spanish lender BBVA has already been using the sandbox, testing the issuance, transfer and redemption of a bank token on a testnet blockchain, as well as interactions of the token with smart contracts. It is now targeting an initial live pilot with select customers in 2025 on the public Ethereum blockchain.
Francisco Maroto, head, blockchain and digital assets, BBVA, says: “This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our exploration of the potential of blockchain technology and will ultimately help enable us to broaden our banking services and expand the market with new financial solutions.”
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Central banks don't want to loose control over their currencies so fiat backed tokens are one way to achieve that.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 19 April 2025. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2025). Visa launches platform to help banks use fiat backed tokens. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/visa-launches-platform-to-help-banks-use-fiat-backed-tokens/
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