Kakao Pay CEO Shin Won-keun (pictured) revealed for the first time a plan to integrate a won-denominated stablecoin into the next-generation digital wallet "Super Wallet," allowing it to be used like an easy-payment account.
Speaking at "Bitcoin Seoul 2026," held at the FKI Tower in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 4th and hosted by Seoul Economic Daily and Decenter, Shin stressed, "Kakao Pay will expand the Super Wallet it holds into the stablecoin domain." He added, "Just as users can check Kakao Pay Money and accounts on the main screen, we will provide a service that lets them view their won-stablecoin records as well."
Shin highlighted the fact that Kakao Pay's roughly 40 million users link their bank accounts and credit cards to the platform. "On average, users connect more than six bank accounts and credit cards to make payments and manage cash flow through Kakao Pay," he explained. "We plan to actively combine this part with the won-stablecoin."
To this end, the company plans to focus on building the necessary infrastructure within the Kakao ecosystem. In particular, since Kakao Pay's biggest strength is cited as its connectivity with KakaoTalk, it is expected to set up features such as instant conversion to won-stablecoin based on online peer-to-peer (P2P) financing. "For won-stablecoin transactions to proceed stably, the foundation must be laid well," Shin said. "By combining with KakaoTalk, KakaoBank, and the stablecoin consortium, we will build the infrastructure and ensure the functions can be appropriately utilized where needed."
Shin also projected high growth potential for the won-stablecoin. His view is that, like existing stablecoins, it offers superior efficiency compared to traditional financial networks and will become a key currency for real-world asset (RWA) transactions. "If we target K-content fandom well, people will use won-stablecoins to purchase concert tickets and goods," Shin assessed. "It will be a useful tool for expanding global distribution."
Andres Kim, regional expansion lead at Tether, who took part in the panel discussion following Shin's lecture, also focused on the synergy between won-stablecoins and K-content. "In Korea, there are opportunities that go beyond the general trading of stablecoins," Kim stressed. "If stablecoins are embedded within the payment systems of various K-content such as games, K-pop, and food, global accessibility will increase further." He added, "I think inbound payment services for tourists visiting Korea will definitely take root going forward."
