Hana Financial Group has joined hands with Dunamu to test card payments and merchant settlement technology using stablecoins. The key is to check whether payments can be made with various types of stablecoins held in an Upbit wallet and whether merchant settlement cycles can be shortened in real time. The companies plan to apply the technology to an actual payment service once related制度 are in place.

Hana Financial Group said on Oct. 23 it is jointly conducting a proof of concept for payment and settlement technology by linking Upbit and GIWA Wallet with Dunamu. Hana Card, an affiliate of Hana Financial, is participating in the project.

The proof of concept focuses on combining blockchain technology with existing card payment methods. It tests a structure in which customers use stablecoins with a card linked to an Upbit wallet, while merchants can receive settlement of payment proceeds quickly.

It is also testing ways to cut the time it takes to settle payments to merchants. Hana Financial is verifying a method to process merchant settlements in real time using blockchain technology, instead of taking several days in an existing card payment network. It expects this will also help small business owners manage funds.

The test also covers a function that uses different stablecoins in a single payment. For example, when paying overseas with a card linked to an Upbit wallet, it would use USDT and USDC first and, if the balance is insufficient, continue the payment with another stablecoin such as JPYC. Hana Financial explained it could also provide benefits such as preferential exchange rates for such overseas payment methods.

Based on the test, Hana Financial also plans to pursue standardisation of stablecoin payment infrastructure. It aims to build a foundation so that domestic and overseas fintech firms and retailers can use the payment system in the future.

Separately from the stablecoin proof of concept, the companies will develop financial benefits for Dunamu VIP customers. They plan to create premium financial-linked services and VIP-only partnership benefits by using operating experience from Hana Financial's comprehensive wealth management services, Club1 and Gold Club. Hana Card plans to provide the VIP service from January 2027.

A Hana Financial official said, "Through cooperation with Dunamu, we have implemented a next-generation payment and settlement process that the public can actually feel and use," adding, "We will present a standard for the domestic digital asset payment market by combining Upbit exchange wallets with the existing payment market."