AhnLab's blockchain subsidiary, AhnLab Blockchain Company, announced on the 20th that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for business collaboration in stablecoin issuance and payment with the blockchain fintech company Open Asset, which operates the zero-pay business through the Korea Simple Payment Promotion Agency.
This agreement aims to strengthen the cooperation structure between the digital financial infrastructures and technologies owned by each company to establish an offline payment ecosystem based on the Korean won stablecoin, as the won stablecoin is gaining attention as a digital payment method.
The three companies plan to establish a digital asset payment standard model by linking their areas of expertise, such as ▲ security-specialized virtual asset wallet (ABC) ▲ payment infrastructure (Korea Simple Payment Promotion Agency) ▲ won stablecoin issuance (Open Asset), and will aim to create transparent governance that complies with regulations and a complete payment ecosystem.
First, AhnLab Blockchain Company will provide a secure storage and user-friendly environment for the won stablecoin based on the infrastructure of the multi-chain virtual asset wallet 'Klip,' which has the largest users and security expertise in the country. The Korea Simple Payment Promotion Agency will support the actual use channels for stablecoins through the Zero Pay network, which has 2 million small business merchants nationwide. Open Asset will provide a regulation-friendly stablecoin issuance and settlement system with a dual signature-based issuance structure and deposit settlement system.
This cooperation is expected to contribute practically to the expansion of the domestic stablecoin payment ecosystem by providing ▲ consumers with a convenient environment for won stablecoin charging and usage ▲ small business merchants with new payment methods ▲ enhancing Korea's competitiveness in the global digital payment environment. In the future, foreign tourists will also be able to easily convert virtual assets like USDT and USDC into won stablecoins and make payments at Zero Pay merchants directly without separate currency exchange procedures.
Kim Kyung-eop, CEO of Open Asset, noted, "Through this cooperation, we will establish the first collaborative model that clearly separates the issuance, distribution, and payment infrastructure of won stablecoins, laying the groundwork for expanding practical usage after institutionalization." He added, "As a result, we expect that stablecoins will establish themselves as key financial infrastructure integrated into the real economy."
Choi Tong-joo, director of the Korea Simple Payment Promotion Agency, stated, "This cooperation will be an opportunity to promote financial innovation centered on small business merchants in the era of digital assets." He further noted, "We will actively support stablecoins so that they can be established as practical payment methods that anyone can conveniently use in everyday street markets, rather than being unfamiliar technology."
Kang Seok-kyun, CEO of AhnLab Blockchain Company, stated, "Providing infrastructure for users to safely and conveniently use blockchain-based digital assets is the core role of ABC," adding, "We will continue to enhance the security and accessibility of 'Klip' so that all users, both domestic and foreign, can easily and safely utilize digital assets in their daily lives."