Big Tech, financial firms and payment companies in South Korea are widening digital-asset initiatives by teaming up with global blockchain companies. Kakao Group and Toss and Toss Bank are working with Circle to review stablecoin-based payment and settlement infrastructure and tokenised financial services. Banks are developing cross-border remittance and payment models. Separately, the top four financial holding groups posted combined first-half net profit above 11 trillion won, while regulators step up group-level oversight of fintech expansion.

KakaoPay Securities set a goal of reaching 20 million investors within three years by rolling out an AI investment agent and leveraging Kakao affiliate platforms. It plans to launch a service for U.S. investors to invest in South Korean stocks in the first half of next year and is reviewing 24-hour trading through tokenisation. The company also plans to expand investment banking, focus on venture capital and pursue a stock-gifting programme.