KB Kookmin Card, a subsidiary of South Korea’s largest financial group, has filed a patent for a payment system that integrates stablecoins with traditional credit cards. The filing outlines a hybrid model that links a user’s existing credit card to a blockchain wallet holding stablecoins.
Under the proposed structure, stablecoin balances would be used first when making payments, with any remaining amount automatically charged to the credit card. The design aims to preserve existing card networks, consumer protections, and rewards while reducing friction for digital asset payments.
The patent filing comes as South Korea advances stablecoin regulation under the forthcoming Digital Asset Basic Act. Policymakers are weighing a bank-led model for issuing won-pegged stablecoins, positioning large financial institutions to play a central role in bridging crypto assets with established payment systems.
