Western Union, Visa, PayPal, Meta: Why Major Payments Giants Are Racing to Solana

In a pivotal moment for financial infrastructure, major institutions like Western Union, Visa, PayPal, and Meta are racing to build on Solana—not just for speculative gains, but to power the next generation of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization and instant, low-cost global payments. Kyle Simani of Forward, a crypto treasury firm, reveals that his company has invested in Onry, a reinsurance firm issuing $150 million in tokenized assets on Solana with 12–13% yields, while also securing a 3.5% cost of capital through a partnership with Galaxy. This isn't just about yield—it's about creating a new financial layer where TradFi and crypto converge. Solana’s dominance in this space stems from its near-zero transaction fees, global on/off ramps, and regulatory clarity, making it the preferred network for institutional settlement. The SEC’s recent guidance encouraging security innovation on-chain, combined with pilots like the DTCC’s tokenized equities initiative, signals a systemic shift. Simani argues that while legacy systems won’t vanish overnight, the transition is inevitable—especially as AI agents begin automating trillions in transactions. The real winners won’t be those clinging to old rails, but those embracing open, permissionless infrastructure. The bear market, he insists, is where the true winners are being forged.