South Korean | Crypto

Kakao-backed blockchain Kaia joins South Korea’s stablecoin race as the tech giant’s payments app surges 30% on the stock market. Layer-1 blockchain Kaia has pledged to launch a South Korean won-based stablecoin following the Wednesday inauguration of President Lee Jae-myung, a left-leaning politician whose campaign included a series of crypto-friendly promises. Launching a won-based stablecoin is one of the crypto goals laid out during Lee’s campaign that set him apart from other crypto-friendly candidates. The issuance of stablecoins faces legal hurdles, as South Korea’s constitution grants exclusive authority over currency issuance to the central bank, the Bank of Korea. Read more

K Wave Media announced a $500 million securities deal to fund a Bitcoin-treasury strategy, aiming to become the “Metaplanet of Korea.” South Korean entertainment company K Wave Media has entered into a securities purchase agreement worth up to $500 million to fund a Bitcoin-centric crypto treasury strategy. K Wave reached an agreement with Bitcoin Strategic Reserve KWM for the sale of up to $500 million of ordinary shares to fund its Bitcoin treasury, according to a June 4 announcement. “By embedding BTC into our core strategy, we’re reinforcing our commitment to decentralization, agility, and future-facing value creation,“ said Ted Kim, co-interim CEO of K Wave Media. Read more

South Korea's presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung backed a won-backed stablecoin to curb capital flight. South Korea’s Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung proposed creating a stablecoin tied to the Korean won to prevent capital outflows and strengthen national financial sovereignty. Speaking during a recent policy discussion, Lee argued that a won-based stablecoin would allow South Korea to retain wealth domestically while reducing reliance on foreign-issued digital assets like USDt (USDT) and USDC (USDC), according to The Korea Herald. Currently, South Korean law prohibits the issuance of domestic stablecoins, forcing local exchanges to rely on US dollar-based alternatives. Read more