ONE BIG THING: The Structural Overhaul of Korea’s Financial Plumbing

Korea is rapidly accelerating the modernization of its financial infrastructure. Triggered by presidential remarks on reforming legacy stock settlement systems, stablecoins are emerging as the definitive “T+0” real-time alternative. Concurrently, government agencies are fast-tracking the adoption of independent third-party custodians by the first half of this year. Amidst this paradigm shift, BDACS is expanding its blueprint to become the comprehensive financial gateway for the APAC region.

I. BDACS CEO Harry Ryoo’s Vision Highlighted in Major Media

Recently, BDACS has been actively shaping the narrative of Korea’s institutional digital asset market. CEO Harry Ryoo’s strategic vision was prominently featured through an exclusive media interview and an expert column contribution. He shared BDACS’s three-stage blueprint for evolving into a comprehensive APAC financial gateway and proposed an innovative approach to macro-level infrastructure RWA.

To explore his detailed insights, please read the full English translations via the LinkedIn articles below.

▶ [LinkedIn] Read the Full Interview: BDACS’s Institutional Blueprint

▶ [LinkedIn] Read the Full Column: Tokenizing Mega Infrastructure (RWA)

I. Custody: Government Fast-Tracks Independent Custodian Selection

Driven by recent exchange vulnerabilities, Korean authorities and public agencies are decisively moving toward independent, professional custody solutions.

• NTS and Police Fast-Track H1 Selection: Recognizing asset management as an urgent priority, the National Tax Service (NTS) is finalizing evaluation criteria to select a private digital asset custodian within the first half of 2026. Concurrently, the National Police Agency has more than tripled its budget for outsourcing seized crypto custody to attract private sector participation, aiming to finalize its firm selection by the first half of the year as well.
• The Call for an “Anchorage-style” Independent Custodian: As authorities draft a ‘Public Crypto Storage Manual’, industry experts and media are strongly warning against relying on centralized exchanges due to repeated internal control failures. There is a growing consensus that Korea must actively foster independent, institution-trusted custodians, making the separation of trading and storage a regulatory imperative.

▶ Sources: ZDNet Korea (1) | ZDNet Korea (2) | Hankook Ilbo | Newsway

II. Stablecoin: Emerging as the Alternative for “T+0” Securities Settlement

Discussions on modernizing Korea’s capital markets have unexpectedly opened a massive window for stablecoin utility.

• Presidential Push Sparks Real-Time Settlement Discussions: Following President Lee Jae-myung’s public critique of the legacy “T+2” stock settlement system, discussions on overhauling the securities infrastructure are gaining unprecedented momentum. Going beyond merely shortening the settlement cycle, stablecoins are rapidly emerging as the ultimate alternative for achieving real-time “T+0” settlements.

▶ Source: The Fact