Visa to Pilot Crypto API Enabling Institutions and Banks to Buy Bitcoin This Year

The world’s leading payment processor, Visa, has announced a partnership with First Boulevard – a digital neobank that is focused on building generational wealth for the Black Community.

• The aim of this collaboration is to pilot Visa’s new suite of cryptocurrency API’s that will enable the company’s customers to purchase, custody, and to trade digital assets held by Anchorage.
• Anchorage is a federally chartered digital asset bank.
• As CryptoPotato reported last week, the company said that it might add cryptocurrencies to its payments network of over 70 million merchants.
• The release reads that the API pilot program is anticipated to launch later this year.
• Speaking on the matter was the Chief Product Officer at Visa, Jack Forestell, who said:

We set out to make Visa the bridge between digital currencies and our global network of 70 million merchants and today we are the leading network for crypto wallets with 35 crypto platforms choosing to issue with Visa. […] With this pilot program, we want to extend the value of Visa to our neobank and financial institution clients by providing an easy bridge to crypto assets and blockchain networks.

• Moreover, by prioritizing partners like First Boulevard, the company aims at leveling the playing field when it comes to access to new and emerging technologies.
• Meanwhile, speaking on the matter was also the co-founder and president of Anchorage, Diogo Monica, who said:

Visa’s crypto APIs pilot program is a significant step forward both for the proliferation of crypto as an asset class, and for accessibility and inclusion in payments financial services. We are thrilled to be working alongside Visa and First Boulevard to build the infrastructure for a more secure and equitable financial future.

Featured image courtesy of Visa.com