Visa joins MAS-led BLOOM initiative with Nium as the first partner

*This article is adapted from * Nium

Visa, the world’s leader in digital payments announced its participation in BLOOM (Borderless, Liquid, Open, Online, Multi-currency), a new initiative led by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) designed to extend settlement capabilities offered by financial institutions, including enabling interoperability between traditional payment systems and stablecoin-based payment rails.

The initiative brings together industry participants to address how financial institutions can benefit from faster, more programmable forms of payment without sacrificing the safeguards that underpin trust in the financial system. As part of this effort, Nium is Visa’s first partner to pilot the use of stablecoins for settlement under BLOOM, exploring new ways to move money across borders more efficiently while continuing to leverage Visa's trusted payment network, security, and compliance capabilities.

Today, payment settlements typically take place on business days. Through this pilot, both organisations are exploring how stablecoins can enable settlements to occur seven days a week, including weekends and public holidays. This will help reduce delays, improve efficiency, and provide participating financial institutions with faster access to funds. The pilot will support regulated stablecoins that are backed by major currencies, including US dollar and euro-denominated stablecoins.

For businesses, this could mean greater efficiency in how payments are sent, received and managed. For consumers, it could pave the way for more seamless payment experiences regardless of the underlying technology powering the transaction. For the broader financial ecosystem, it represents an opportunity to advance innovation without compromising trust.

"The future of payments will be shaped by how different forms of money and payment networks work together for different use cases," said Adeline Kim, Group Country Manager for Regional Southeast Asia and SVP, Global Clients & Acquirers, Asia Pacific, Visa. "Through BLOOM and our pilot with Nium in Singapore, we are exploring how stablecoins can complement existing payment infrastructure, enabling greater flexibility in settlement while preserving the security, resilience and compliance standards that underpin global commerce. As digital payments continue to evolve, interoperability will be critical to delivering meaningful value across the financial ecosystem."

"This pilot with Visa under BLOOM is a meaningful step in our partnership to shape the next phase of payments in the region,” said Amaresh Mohan, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer at Nium. “We're building foundational infrastructure for seamless interoperability between traditional and stablecoin-based rails. This convergence is not only inevitable, it's essential. By bringing together the security and trust of established payment networks with the efficiency and programmability of digital currencies, we unlock real value for financial institutions and their customers. BLOOM demonstrates that innovation and compliance advance together," he added.

As one of the world's leading financial and innovation hubs, Singapore continues to play a key role in advancing responsible digital finance. Through collaboration across the public and private sectors, initiatives such as BLOOM are helping establish the foundations for a more connected, interoperable and trusted financial ecosystem.

For the latest news on Vertex Ventures SE Asia and India and our portfolio companies, follow us on Linkedin or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.