Stablecoin Card Settlement
A full-fidelity sandbox for testing native USDC settlement in card issuing and acquiring programs. Replace T+2 wire transfers with real-time on-chain settlement on Base—without changing the consumer card experience.
Live Settlement Simulation
Compare traditional T+2 vs USDC real-time settlement
Settlement Comparison: Traditional vs Stablecoin
| Aspect | Traditional (T+2) | USDC Settlement | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Settlement Time | T+2 business days | Near real-time (~15 seconds) | 99.9% faster |
| Operating Hours | 5 days/week (banking hours) | 24/7/365 | Always available |
| Cross-Border Fees | 2-4% + FX spread | <0.1% gas fees | 95%+ savings |
| Reconciliation | Manual, batch-based | Automated, real-time | Zero exceptions |
| Capital Efficiency | Float locked for 2+ days | Instant liquidity | Working capital freed |
- Cardholder spends at merchant via card network
- Authorization via ISO 8583 0100/0110 messages
- Issuer settles obligation to network in USDC on Base
- Real-time confirmation vs T+2 wire transfer
- Network settles with acquirer in USDC
- Acquirer routes USDC to merchant wallet
- Merchant receives funds same-day (not T+2)
- Optional: Auto-convert to fiat via off-ramp
- Full ISO 8583 message flow simulation
- Authorization, clearing, and settlement phases
- Batch file generation (0500 messages)
- Exception handling and reversal flows
ISO 8583 Message Types (Simulated)
Sandbox Architecture
Card Network Simulator
Simulates Visa/Mastercard network behavior including authorization routing, clearing file generation, and settlement calculations.
USDC Settlement Engine
Handles on-chain USDC transfers on Base testnet for both issuer and acquirer settlement flows.
Reconciliation Service
Real-time matching of ISO 8583 clearing messages with on-chain USDC transfers.
Merchant Payout API
REST API for acquirers to trigger instant USDC payouts to merchant wallets.
Implementation Examples
// settlement/iso8583-handler.ts
import { parseISO8583, buildResponse } from '@/lib/iso8583';
import { settleInUSDC } from '@/lib/usdc-settlement';
export async function handleAuthorizationRequest(message: Buffer) {
const parsed = parseISO8583(message);
// Extract key fields from bitmap
const { pan, amount, currency, mcc, terminalId } = parsed;
// Route to issuer for approval
const authResponse = await routeToIssuer({
cardNumber: maskPAN(pan),
amount: parseAmount(amount),
merchantCategory: mcc
});
if (authResponse.approved) {
// Queue for USDC settlement (replaces T+2 wire)
await queueSettlement({
type: 'ISSUER_OBLIGATION',
amount: authResponse.settleAmount,
chain: 'base',
token: 'USDC'
});
}
// Build ISO 8583 0110 response
return buildResponse('0110', {
responseCode: authResponse.approved ? '00' : '05',
authCode: authResponse.authCode
});
}// settlement/usdc-engine.ts
import { createPublicClient, createWalletClient, http } from 'viem';
import { base } from 'viem/chains';
import { USDC_ABI, USDC_ADDRESS } from '@/lib/contracts';
export async function settleInUSDC(params: SettlementParams) {
const { from, to, amount, reference } = params;
// Create settlement transaction on Base
const txHash = await walletClient.writeContract({
address: USDC_ADDRESS,
abi: USDC_ABI,
functionName: 'transfer',
args: [to, parseUnits(amount.toString(), 6)]
});
// Wait for confirmation (~2 seconds on Base)
const receipt = await publicClient.waitForTransactionReceipt({
hash: txHash,
confirmations: 1
});
// Emit settlement event for reconciliation
await emitSettlementEvent({
txHash,
reference,
settledAt: new Date(),
blockNumber: receipt.blockNumber,
// Compare: Traditional would be T+2 (48+ hours)
settlementTime: 'INSTANT'
});
return { txHash, status: 'SETTLED' };
}// settlement/merchant-payout.ts
export async function processMerchantPayout(batch: ClearingBatch) {
const payouts: PayoutResult[] = [];
for (const merchant of batch.merchants) {
// Calculate net settlement after interchange & fees
const netAmount = calculateNetSettlement(
merchant.grossVolume,
merchant.interchangeFees,
merchant.acquirerFees
);
// Execute USDC transfer to merchant wallet
const result = await settleInUSDC({
from: ACQUIRER_SETTLEMENT_WALLET,
to: merchant.walletAddress,
amount: netAmount,
reference: `PAYOUT-${batch.id}-${merchant.id}`
});
// Webhook notification to merchant
await sendWebhook(merchant.webhookUrl, {
event: 'payout.completed',
amount: netAmount,
currency: 'USDC',
txHash: result.txHash,
// Traditional: "Expected in 2-3 business days"
// Stablecoin: Already in their wallet
availableNow: true
});
payouts.push(result);
}
return payouts;
}- Cloud Run for settlement microservices
- AlloyDB for transaction ledger with event sourcing
- Pub/Sub for ISO 8583 message routing
- BigQuery for settlement analytics & reporting
- Secret Manager for issuer/acquirer credentials
- Pre-generated ISO 8583 transaction batches
- Mock issuer/acquirer identities with test wallets
- Merchant profiles with settlement preferences
- Base testnet USDC faucet integration
- Clearing file samples (batch 0500 format)
Ready to modernize settlement?
Deploy the card settlement sandbox. Test ISO 8583 flows, execute USDC settlements on Base testnet, and benchmark real-time vs T+2 performance before going live.
