Injective and BDACS plan to bring won-backed stablecoin KRW1 to tokenized asset markets as South Korea develops a regulatory framework for local currency stablecoins.
Blockchain network Injective has entered into a memorandum of understanding with South Korean digital asset custodian BDACS to bring a won-backed stablecoin to its tokenized asset markets, potentially allowing institutions to settle transactions without relying on US dollar stablecoins.
According to a Tuesday announcement, BDACS’s KRW1 stablecoin would serve as the exclusive won-denominated settlement asset for real-world assets (RWAs) on Injective, allowing institutions to trade and settle tokenized assets directly in Korean won.
BDACS says KRW1 is fully backed by Korean won reserves. Minting and redemption would initially be limited to approved institutional partners, subject to regulatory approval.
The agreement comes as South Korea develops rules for won-backed stablecoins under its proposed Digital Asset Basic Act, which the government aims to finalize by the end of 2026. In the meantime, the country’s five largest crypto exchanges recorded net stablecoin outflows for 18 consecutive months through June, according to industry data cited by Cointelegraph.
Injective is a layer-1 blockchain that has increasingly focused on tokenized assets. In August, its institutional services arm registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission as a transfer agent, allowing it to maintain ownership records and facilitate securities transfers. Injective’s native token has a market capitalization of roughly $887 million, according to CoinMarketCap data.
Related: China’s P2P stablecoin wallets surge 43x, Korea’s $450B crypto economy: Asia Express
South Korea moves toward won-backed stablecoin regulation
South Korea is still debating who can issue won-backed stablecoins as lawmakers work on the Digital Asset Basic Act.
A July policy report by Hashed Open Research and the Solana Policy Institute called for greater flexibility in stablecoin issuance and interim licensing guidance while the legislation is being developed. The proposed law would establish a broader framework for digital assets, covering stablecoin issuance, disclosures and market rules.
South Korea’s efforts follow the passage of the US GENIUS Act, which established a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, and the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), which includes rules governing stablecoin issuers.
Industry data shows the stablecoin market remains overwhelmingly dollar-denominated, with US dollar-backed tokens accounting for more than 99% of the total supply.
Related: Mastercard launches stablecoin risk screening for banks and payment providers