Moves by South Korean companies to integrate stablecoins into payments are gaining pace. Efforts across the industry to apply stablecoins to payments are becoming more concrete.

Hecto Financial will work with Singapore-based stablecoin payments company TripleA to build a global payment and settlement service using stablecoins. Hecto Financial has joined Circle’s stablecoin payment network, the Circle Payments Network (CPN), run by USDC issuer Circle. SuhoIO, a blockchain-based payment and settlement infrastructure company, unveiled a next-generation foreign exchange (FX) settlement model using stablecoins.

• Hecto Financial signs an MOU with TripleA on cooperation for stablecoin-based payment and settlement • Circle announces Hecto Financial’s joining of CPN, supporting stablecoin-based global fund transfers • SuhoIO unveils next-generation FX settlement infrastructure using stablecoins

Last year’s scorecard for the financial sector was also released. The four major financial holding companies again posted record-high results last year. They also raised shareholder returns to record levels. KB Financial held on to the top spot, while Shinhan, Hana and Woori also delivered record performances. Among major banking subsidiaries, KB Kookmin Bank posted record results and regained the position of leading bank.

• Four major financial groups continue record results, shareholder return competition intensifies • Woori Financial posts 3.1413 trillion won net profit last year, up 1.8 percent from a year earlier • KB Financial to deliver 2.82 trillion won in shareholder returns, highest-ever cash dividend • Shinhan Financial posts 4.9716 trillion won net profit last year, up 11.7 percent from a year earlier

IBK Industrial Bank of Korea recorded 2.7189 trillion won in net profit for 2025 on a consolidated basis and 2.3858 trillion won on a standalone basis. Its outstanding loans to small and medium-sized enterprises rose 14.7 trillion won, or 5.9 percent, from the end of the previous year to 261.9 trillion won, and its market share was 24.4 percent. Total assets on a bank basis surpassed 500 trillion won.

• IBK Industrial Bank of Korea posts 2.7 trillion won net profit last year, up 2.4 percent from a year earlier

BNK Financial Group recorded 815.0 billion won in 2025 consolidated net profit attributable to owners of the parent, up 11.9 percent, or 86.5 billion won, from a year earlier. JB Financial Group recorded 710.4 billion won in 2025 net profit attributable to controlling interests. The figure was up 4.9 percent from a year earlier and was a record high, exceeding the annual guidance the company presented early last year.

• BNK Financial posts 815.0 billion won net profit last year, up 11.9 percent from a year earlier • JB Financial posts 710.4 billion won net profit last year, up 4.9 percent from a year earlier

KakaoBank also posted record-high results last year. Annual operating profit was 649.4 billion won and net profit was 480.3 billion won, up 7.0 percent and 9.1 percent, respectively, from a year earlier.

• KakaoBank posts record-high net profit last year, up 9.1 percent from a year earlier

Other key moves in the finance and fintech sector are summarised below.

Woori Bank on Feb. 4 set up a Corporate Succession Support Center to help small and mid-sized companies achieve sustainable growth, and carried out an organisational reshuffle to strengthen digital finance and support global business.

• Woori Bank sets up Corporate Succession Support Center, to provide tailored solutions

Shinhan Bank will launch a proxy service for rate-cut requests that allows customers to apply at once, including for loans from other financial firms linked through mydata. Shinhan Financial Hope Foundation will recruit startups to participate in the Shinhan Square Bridge Incheon programme from last month’s Feb. 28 through this month’s Feb. 23.

• Shinhan Bank launches proxy service for rate-cut request rights • Shinhan Financial recruits innovative startups, expands support for deep tech, bio and ESG fields

Hana Financial Group will significantly expand the supply of investment banking services for KOSDAQ-listed companies and growth-stage companies by linking affiliates across banking, securities, asset management, capital and venture investment.

• Hana Financial moves to expand investment banking focused on KOSDAQ and venture firms

IBK Financial Group will 추진 a KOSDAQ Value-up and Bridge programme to address information asymmetry in the KOSDAQ market and promote sustained growth for small and venture companies.

• IBK Financial Group 추진 KOSDAQ Value-up and Bridge programme

NH NongHyup Bank signed a 2026 management agreement. It decided to pursue sustainable growth by accelerating its shift to agentic AI and strengthening sales competitiveness, and to reinforce consumer rights-focused management by bolstering financial consumer protection and internal controls. NH NongHyup Bank also completed a nationwide network of five hubs for its NH Corporate and SOHO Growth Companion Center, adding a Gwangju centre to existing sites in Seoul, Suwon, Busan and Daejeon. It also held a strategic meeting with global digital asset infrastructure company Fireblocks on a tax refund digitalisation proof of concept and ways to build a won-denominated stablecoin ecosystem. NH NongHyup Bank will pursue about 2 trillion won in financial support in cooperation with 17 regional credit guarantee foundations nationwide to support management stability for small merchants and self-employed people facing difficulties in fundraising.

• NH NongHyup Bank signs 2026 management agreement, accelerates digital and AI transition • NH NongHyup Bank completes building five regional hubs for NH Corporate and SOHO Growth Companion Center • NH NongHyup Bank says it is moving ahead in earnest with plans for a won-denominated stablecoin ecosystem • NH NongHyup Bank expands small merchant financial support with regional credit guarantee foundations

K Bank will use an initial public offering (IPO) as a springboard to push in earnest into the SME market, expand its platform business and strengthen competitiveness in digital assets. It aims to significantly expand its business portfolio by 집중 investing capital secured through listing into future growth engines. Toss Bank launched a professional practitioner business loan for sole proprietors who run businesses based on professional qualifications.

• K Bank to list on KOSPI in March, expands playing field from SMEs to digital assets • Toss Bank launches professional practitioner business loan for sole proprietors in 9 professions

KakaoBank declared it will pursue inorganic growth, strengthening competitiveness through external drivers such as equity investments or mergers and acquisitions. It aims to strengthen the foundation for mid- to long-term growth engines through M&A.

• KakaoBank says it will pursue M&A in payments and capital firms to build mid- to long-term growth engines

The National Credit Union Federation of Korea plans to focus this year on key initiatives including balanced development of local communities and credit unions, improving the soundness of credit unions, revitalising social solidarity finance and 추진 productivity-centered AX. OK Savings Bank, an affiliate of OK Financial Group, launched the OK Living Expenses Account and OK Earlybird savings for new customers.

• National Credit Union Federation of Korea says it will step up productivity-centered AX this year • OK Savings Bank launches OK Living Expenses Account and Earlybird savings

Banks are rolling out dedicated living-expense accounts that protect a minimum amount of funds from seizure, moving to strengthen the financial safety net. The financial sector said commercial banks introduced related products at the same time after a revision to the Enforcement Decree of the Civil Execution Act raised the protected limit to 2.5 million won a month from 1.85 million won.

• Banks launch living-expense accounts blocking seizure, protecting 2.5 million won in living funds

Kakao Pay recorded annual transaction value of 185.6 trillion won last year, up 11 percent from a year earlier, and consolidated revenue of 958.4 billion won, up 25 percent. Annual operating profit was 50.4 billion won, its first consolidated profit for a full year. Kakao Pay also launched a beta overseas remittance service for domestic and foreign users who need to send money abroad. It is also starting a rate-cut automatic application service that finds the optimal time to apply to lower users’ loan interest and automatically submits the request.

• Kakao Pay posts 50.4 billion won operating profit last year, achieving first annual profit • Kakao Pay launches beta overseas remittance service, with zero fees through year-end • Kakao Pay launches automatic rate-cut application service

Viva Republica, which operates Toss, said the number of partner mini apps on its mini app platform, App in Toss, surpassed 1,000. It achieved the milestone about 7 months after its official launch in July, or about 10 months from when the first mini app was introduced in the Toss app. Viva Republica also published a second mydata report by its financial management research institute, Toss Insight, titled 'The Current Status of the MyData Business and Suggestions for Development.'

• Toss’s App in Toss partner mini apps surpass 1,000 • "Mydata policy needs to move away from an existing obligation-centered design"

DB Financial Investment on Feb. 5 signed a strategic MOU with the Solana Foundation, a global public blockchain platform, to build a digital capital market based on security token offerings (STO).

• DB Financial Investment signs strategic MOU with Solana Foundation on STO