Moves to integrate stablecoins into existing credit card networks are accelerating. Visa’s steps are drawing attention. Visa’s stablecoin settlement transactions annualise to about $4.5 billion, a small amount compared with its total payment volume of $14.2 trillion, but they are growing rapidly each month. Visa’s head of crypto, Cuy Sheffield, said that even if stablecoins are adopted as a payment technology, they need to be connected to existing merchant networks to be used in practice. He said Visa’s role is becoming more important.

• Visa’s stablecoin settlement tops $4.5 billion; payment infrastructure integration gains pace

Visa is strengthening its stablecoin strategy and supports the Ethereum, Avalanche, Stellar and Solana networks. It has also launched a dedicated team to help banks and fintech firms develop stablecoin payment products, expanding its influence in the crypto finance market.

• Visa crypto card payments surge; up 525 percent in 2025

Korean internet-only banks’ global businesses are also drawing attention. Recently, industry moves related to overseas remittances have been active.

• Cutting fees and boosting speed: internet banks push into overseas remittances • K Bank supports digital asset-based remittance and payment services between South Korea and the UAE

The combined annual net profit of the four major financial holding groups last year is expected to reach 18 trillion won for the first time. Financial information provider FnGuide estimated the combined annual net profit of the four major groups — KB, Shinhan, Hana and Woori Financial — at 18.33 trillion won. It would be the first time their combined annual net profit exceeds 18 trillion won, up 12 percent from a year earlier.

• Four major financial groups seen posting record results; scope for higher shareholder returns in focus

Other major moves in the financial and fintech sectors are as follows.

Shinhan Financial Group held a launch ceremony for AX innovation leaders, core group talent for AI Transformation, and is shifting to a company-wide AX execution phase centred on frontline operations. Shinhan Financial plans to continue expanding and cultivating AX innovation leaders to embed AX into employees’ everyday work. It will also run an AI skills enhancement programme for all employees to accelerate AX internalisation.

• Shinhan Financial launches AX innovation leaders: “Frontline-led AI transformation begins in earnest”

Woori Financial Group held a launch ceremony for Dinolab Seoul’s seventh cohort on Jan. 15 at the Dinolab Gangnam Center in southern Seoul. Dinolab is Woori Financial Group’s open innovation programme to discover and nurture startups with innovative technologies to secure future growth engines and support productive finance. Woori Bank signed a business agreement with the Korea Commercial Artificial Intelligence Software Association to invigorate the commercial AI software industry. Through the agreement, Woori Bank plans to expand financial support for promising companies in the sector in earnest.

• Woori Financial selects Dinolab Seoul’s seventh cohort to support growth of innovative startups • Woori Bank to expand “productive finance” supply to foster commercial AI software companies

Hana Bank launched a small credit loan product, called Pension Living Expenses Loan, to support customers receiving public pensions during temporary funding gaps.

• Hana Bank launches Pension Living Expenses Loan for public pension recipients

KakaoBank officially opened an AI sign-language counselling service to help customers with hearing impairments use financial services more easily and conveniently.

• KakaoBank begins full operation of AI sign-language counselling for customers with hearing impairments

Toss Bank fully adopted and internalised its in-house integrated counselling platform, Helpdesk. Toss Bank also strengthened its banking lineup for sole proprietors by simultaneously launching a business account with sales and spending management features and a debit card offering safe and cashback benefits.

• Toss Bank fully adopts integrated counselling platform Helpdesk • Toss Bank launches account, safe and card for sole proprietors

K Bank submitted a securities registration statement to the Financial Services Commission for a Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) listing and entered the public offering process in earnest.

• K Bank submits securities registration statement; indicated offering price 8,300 to 9,500 won • K Bank passes preliminary review for KOSPI listing

Financial authorities have begun a sweeping overhaul of governance in the financial sector. They plan to prepare improvement measures across governance, including CEO selection procedures, by March. That is heightening tension among financial holding companies ahead of March annual general meetings.

• Financial sector governance under scrutiny; improvement measures due by March

Naver Pay, or Npay, is expanding cooperation to promote local currency use and improve payment convenience, including starting applications for its offline integrated terminal, Npay Connect, at iM Bank branches. Kakao Pay introduced a new original YouTube series, Jejeongsin Yujibi Yong, on its own channel ₩ORKSHOP, presenting office workers’ hobby spending culture in an entertainment format. PFCT signed a strategic partnership memorandum of understanding with Vietnamese alternative-data fintech firm Hi-Tech. The companies said they expect the cooperation to improve the accuracy of loan screening by Vietnamese financial institutions and to build a localised AI credit assessment system that can cover customer groups that are difficult to assess using only traditional financial data. NHN KCP was selected, together with German financial institution Deutsche Bank, as the official domestic payment service provider for Henkel Consumer Brands Korea.

• Kakao Pay releases original entertainment content Jejeongsin Yujibi Yong • Naver Pay steps up cooperation with iM Bank to promote local currency use • PFCT targets Vietnam finance market with alternative-data AI credit evaluation • Deutsche Bank and NHN KCP selected as Henkel Korea’s official payment service provider

Average payment fee rates fell after financial authorities sharply increased disclosure of payment fee rates by electronic financial service providers. But some point out that the effect felt by small merchants is not large.

• Payment fee rates fall, but relief for small merchants seen as limited

Amendments to the Act on Electronic Registration of Stocks and Bonds and the Capital Markets Act, aimed at introducing token securities (STO) and allowing distribution of investment contract securities, passed the National Assembly plenary session on Jan. 15. This gives a legal basis for issuing and distributing securities using distributed ledger technology. Against that backdrop, a decision on preliminary approval for an over-the-counter exchange dedicated to fractional investment, which would handle token securities distribution, was delayed. Private startup Lucent Block publicly raised a fairness issue in the licensing process and filed a complaint with the Fair Trade Commission, and authorities are seen as taking a cautious stance.

• Token securities legislation takes first step as amendments pass National Assembly • STO over-the-counter exchange hits snag as FSC delays review amid fairness dispute