Harvard University released a study that basically acts as a glowing report card for Visa’s blockchain ambitions.
If you’ve been following the “settlement wars,” you know Visa has been quietly poking around with stablecoins and distributed ledgers for a while.
Stay ahead in the crypto world – follow us on X for the latest updates, insights, and trends!🚀
But the Harvard report shines a spotlight on two specific heavyweights, XRP and Stellar.
Honestly? It’s a bit of a “told you so” moment for the XRP Army, but the implications go way beyond a price pump.
Replacing the Global Fax Machine
Think of the current global banking system as a series of old, clunky fax machines.
Don’t forget: Harvard cited VISA’s Digital FIAT Currency Settlement patent as an example of a blockchain based system that utilizes XRP and XLM. ✅
XRP + XLM 🤝 VISA
Documented.📝👇 https://t.co/0RTsBRl0Ho pic.twitter.com/p27Rcl2rDS
— SMQKE (@SMQKEDQG) January 27, 2026
When you send money abroad, it doesn’t actually move, a bunch of banks just send messages to each other saying, “I owe you this much.” It’s slow, it’s expensive, and it feels like 1985.
Visa is trying to swap those fax machines for a modern instant messaging system.
By using XRP and Stellar, they’re looking at “liquidity bridges” that are actually assets, that can turn Dollars into Euros in seconds without needing a dozen middleman banks to take a cut.
The Bridge to Anywhere
We’re witnessing the “plumbification” of crypto. Visa isn’t using these tokens because they love the “decentralization” ethos, they’re using them because they are efficient pipelines.
Harvard’s interest confirms that the academic world now views Ripple and Stellar as legitimate financial infrastructure, not just speculative tokens for retail traders.
It’s about taking the tech that crypto built and stretching it across the existing world of finance.
Academic Theory vs. Reality
But let’s pause for a second. Before we start celebrating, we need a reality check.
There’s a massive gap between a Harvard research paper and Visa actually moving trillions of dollars through an XRP-based system on a Tuesday morning.
The “weird part” is that while Harvard is praising the tech, Visa is still very much in the testing phase.
If a major exploit hits a bridge or the regulatory clouds over Ripple don’t fully clear, this Ivy League endorsement won’t mean much.
Harvard studies what could work, but Visa has to deal with what does work.
The Next Domino: Who Wins the Pipe War?
So, what’s the move? Here’s the thing, the settlement layer of the future is being built right now, and the incumbents aren’t waiting for permission.
Visa is picking their horses, XRP and XLM are clearly in the stable, but the real win isn’t for the tokens themselves. The win is for the concept of “programmable money.”
Watch the other card giants. If Mastercard doesn’t respond with a similar “Harvard-approved” roadmap soon, they risk becoming the Kodak of the payment world.
This Harvard report is a warning shot to every legacy bank that the new backend is being installed, with or without them. The clock is ticking.
Cryptocurrency and Web3 expert, founder of Kriptoworld
LinkedIn | X (Twitter) | More articles
With years of experience covering the blockchain space, András delivers insightful reporting on DeFi, tokenization, altcoins, and crypto regulations shaping the digital economy.
📅 Published: January 29, 2026 • 🕓 Last updated: January 29, 2026
✉️ Contact: [email protected]
Disclosure:This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
Kriptoworld.com accepts no liability for any errors in the articles or for any financial loss resulting from incorrect information.
