Visa

Basics

Payments technology company
From Forbes Blockchain 50 (Apr 16, 2019):

"The credit card network has filed for 50 blockchain patents, ranging from a real-time payments settlement system to technology related to crypto trading. This year, Visa is launching B2B Connect, which uses blockchain to help banks around the world process cross-border, business-to-business payments. With $18 trillion in such B2B payments being made a year, gaining even a small chunk of this business would be a nice addition to Visa’s consumer-payment dominance. Full profile"

Projects

Was a consortium member of Facebook's Libra but pulled out of the project on 11-10-2019.
Uses/builts on Hyperledger Fabric
"Visa and Andreessen Horowitz (also a node for Libra) are funding a big round for Anchorage’s (also a node for Libra) omnimetric blockchain security system. Instead of using passwords that can be stolen, Anchorage requires cryptocurrency withdrawals to be approved by a client’s other employees. Then the company uses both human and AI review of biometrics and more to validate transactions before they’re executed, while offering end-to-end insurance coverage. This new-age approach to cryptocurrency protection has attracted a $40 million Series B for Anchorage, led by Blockchain Capital and joined by Visa and Andreessen Horowitz. The round adds to Anchorage’s $17 million Series A that Andreessen led just six months ago, demonstrating extraordinary momentum for the security startup."
From Decrypt (2-12-2020):

"Visa has announced a partnership with Circle Internet Financial and will be integrating its USDC stablecoin."

From this article (2-12-2020):

"Visa has partnered with BlockFi to offer a credit card allowing customers to receive 1.5% of their purchases back in bitcoin instead of cash."

Announced a partnership with Crypto.com (18-3-2021).
Bought a CryptoPunks (23-8-2021).
Visa wants to build a universal hub to exchange stablecoins and central bank digital currencies. It's calling the proposed Layer 2 a "universal payments channel." (30-9-2021).

Current employees

Key leader: Kevin Phalen, global head of business solutions

Past employees

Itamar Lesuisse; "Itamar is CEO of Argent. He was previously the CEO of Peak, which he co-founded with Gerald. Peak was acquired by Lagardere in 2016. Prior to Peak he worked at Visa, Amazon and BCG. He holds four payments-related patents and has a Masters in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering."