Yigit Taha OZTURK 
As decentralized finance rapidly evolves, South Korea—a leading tech hub in Asia—is witnessing a dramatic pivot. The country’s ambitious digital currency project has hit the brakes, as local banks eye more lucrative stablecoin opportunities.
The Bank of Korea has officially paused the second phase of its central bank digital currency (CBDC) tests. Initiated in April, these tests were meant to evaluate the use of a digital won in real-world payments. However, recent government support for stablecoins appears to have shifted the momentum.
High Costs and No Clear Plan Push Banks Away
Sources from the seven participating banks say the CBDC project was already “on the verge of collapse.” The main reason? High costs and lack of a clear commercialization roadmap. Though over 100,000 users joined the initial trial, banks argue there’s little incentive to continue without policy clarity.
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Meanwhile, the government, under newly elected President Lee Jae-myung, is actively promoting stablecoins. A new bill tabled this month allows companies to issue Korean won-pegged stablecoins with a minimum capital of 500 million won (about $370,000). That legislation is quickly reshaping the country’s crypto landscape.
Won-Pegged Stablecoin Initiative Gains Traction
Eight major South Korean banks are now forming an alliance to launch a won-backed stablecoin by 2025. This group includes several CBDC trial participants: KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Woori, and NongHyup.
The move signals a significant shift in strategy. Banks appear more interested in building independent crypto products that offer tangible revenue streams rather than supporting costly central bank projects.
Following the announcement, local fintech stocks reacted swiftly. KakaoPay fell 7%, Hecto Financial dropped 5%, while KB Financial Group and Shinhan saw slight gains of 0.8% and 1.6%, respectively.
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