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BOK–Regulator Standoff Pushes South Korea Stablecoin Bill Past 2025

The central bank’s call for bank‑majority issuers, coupled with unanimous interagency oversight, has halted progress.

Overview

  • The Bank of Korea is insisting that any won‑pegged stablecoin issuer be at least 51% owned by a consortium of banks, a position opposed by financial regulators seeking wider participation.
  • Financial authorities are resisting a BOK proposal for a legally mandated interagency council that would require unanimous votes on policy decisions.
  • Lawmakers are reviewing three bills that each set a 5 billion won minimum capital requirement while diverging on whether issuers may pay interest on balances.
  • The BOK warns that nonbank issuance resembles narrow banking and could heighten AML, FX, and market‑power risks, arguing banks are best placed to manage compliance.
  • Commercial efforts continue under uncertainty, with Naver preparing a wallet with Hashed and the Busan Digital Exchange and exploring a possible tie‑up with Dunamu, as bank–tech pilots such as BDACS proceed.