South Korea’s KB Card Seeks Patent For Stablecoin Credit Card

• KB Kookmin Card patents stablecoin payments that link cards with blockchain wallets.
• Stablecoins pay first from the wallet, then the system charges the remaining amount to the card.
• South Korea’s stablecoin rules advance as banks debate issuance and pilots expand.

KB Kookmin Card, a unit of South Korea’s largest financial group, has filed a patent for a stablecoin-based payment technology. The application describes a hybrid system that connects existing credit cards with blockchain wallets. The company said the design could let customers spend stablecoins while still using familiar card infrastructure. 

According to the report, the patent covers a method that links a user’s credit card to a blockchain wallet address. After the wallet is registered, the card could be used alongside stablecoins held inside that wallet. The process is designed to work within the current payment flow. KB said it wants digital asset payments to feel like standard card payments.

Stablecoin-First Payments With Card Backup

Under the proposed system, stablecoin balances in the wallet would be used first when a purchase is made. If the wallet does not hold enough stablecoins, the remaining amount would be charged to the credit card. This automatic switching is central to the patent structure. 

KB said the system is meant to reduce friction for stablecoin use. It also keeps the existing card benefits in place, including rewards programs and protections tied to credit card payments. The company said it expects this approach to help stablecoins expand beyond niche crypto platforms. 

A KB Card executive said the patent creates a technical foundation for safer and easier digital asset payments. The executive added that future use of the technology would depend on regulatory and market conditions. KB also said consumer protection would remain a priority. 

The patent arrives during active policy work on stablecoins in South Korea. Under President Lee Jae Myung’s policy push, the country is preparing a regulatory framework called the Digital Asset Basic Act. The plan is expected to support a local won-pegged stablecoin market. 

In June, KB Kookmin Bank was among the first entities to file applications for stablecoin-related trademarks. The move followed growing public signals from regulators and lawmakers in support of won stablecoin initiative. The filings indicated early positioning by major institutions. 

South Korea’s Stablecoin Rules

The regulatory debate has centered on which entities would be allowed to issue stablecoins. Reports said the Bank of Korea and the Financial Services Commission agreed that issuance would likely be led by a consortium of licensed banks. Supporters see this as a way to control risk and ensure compliance. 

Related: KakaoBank Advances Plans for a KRW-Backed Stablecoin

Lawmakers from the ruling party reportedly criticized a structure that concentrates issuance among banks. They argued that restricting issuers could prevent newer firms from building payment products. This dispute reflects wider tension between stability and open competition. 

The Digital Asset Basic Act is expected to be finalized in the first quarter of this year. The framework is designed to clarify rules across the digital asset sector. Stablecoins are a central focus because they are viewed as payment tools rather than only trading assets. 

In December, South Korean payments company BC Card concluded a pilot program on stablecoin payments. The test focused on how foreign consumers could pay South Korean merchants using stablecoins. The goal was to assess practical integration and transaction stability. 

BC Card said the pilot involved blockchain financial firm Wavebridge, wallet provider Aaron Group, and remittance company Global Money Express. The participants tested workflows that fit into existing merchant processes. The pilot also used BC Card’s current approval and settlement system. That allowed payments to be completed in the same manner as standard card transactions.

Stablecoin-based payments are also being explored through cross-border products. In July, Bangkok Bank and South Korea’s BC Card partnered on QR payments between Thailand and South Korea. Users of the Paybooc app can make QR payments in Thailand, with transactions processed using real-time exchange rates.