KB Kookmin Card and SBI Holdings Team Up to Explore Stablecoin Payments for Tourists

Highlights:

• Japanese tourists could soon use stablecoins to pay at South Korean businesses under a new partnership.
• The partnership also includes Everspin and SBI Everspin to develop AI-powered security for cross-border financial transactions.
• The companies will test payment systems, refunds, and security before deciding whether to launch commercial services.

South Korea’s KB Kookmin Card and Japan’s SBI Holdings have joined hands to explore stablecoin payments for Japanese tourists. The plan would allow visitors to use stablecoins at businesses across South Korea through existing payment systems. The companies will also work on improving transaction security using AI technology.

According to a report by South Korean news outlet Edaily published on October 13, KB Kookmin Card, SBI Holdings, Everspin, and SBI Everspin signed a four-party memorandum of understanding (MOU). The agreement covers cross-border digital payments, stablecoins, and artificial intelligence (AI) security technology.

据 Kmaeil 报道，韩国 KB 国民卡（KB Kookmin Card）宣布与日本金融集团 SBI 控股（SBI Holdings）、SBI Everspin 及 Everspin 签署数字化金融合作谅解备忘录（MOU）。各方将共同验证 AI 代理身份与访问权限的管理技术（如 SBI Everspin 策划开发的“KYA Trust Gateway”平台），以确保 AI…

— 吴说区块链 (@wublockchain12) October 13, 2026

KB Kookmin Card and SBI Holdings Target Cross-Border Stablecoin Payments

Under the agreement, the four companies will explore how Japanese tourists could use stablecoins and other digital assets to pay merchants across South Korea. The proposed service would connect Japanese visitors’ digital assets to South Korea’s existing payment infrastructure.

Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies linked to assets such as the US dollar. Their value usually stays close to the currency they follow, rather than moving sharply like Bitcoin. The companies will review several payment processes, including transaction settlement, cancellations, refunds, and fraud prevention. They will also examine how local businesses could accept digital asset payments.

However, the service remains in the planning stage. The companies have not announced a launch date or identified which stablecoins they would support. Meanwhile, SBI Holdings will contribute its experience in banking, securities, insurance, and digital assets. The Japanese financial group also operates SBI Everspin, a cybersecurity joint venture established with Everspin.

Companies Plan AI Security Testing for Cross-Border Payments

The companies will also work on KYA Trust Gateway, a security platform known as Know Your Agent. The system will check the identity of AI agents and verify their permissions before allowing them to access financial services or make transactions.

AI agents can perform tasks for users, including searching for information, booking services, and making payments. The companies will first test how Japanese AI agents can access services in South Korea. They will then examine how users approve these tasks and which services each AI agent can use. The companies will also explore connecting the technology with KB Pay, KB Kookmin Card’s existing payment service. Everspin and SBI Everspin will lead the technical testing and development of the security platform.

Stablecoin Payment Partnership Could Expand After Testing

The companies will decide whether to launch the services after reviewing the test results. They may also work together on other financial and non-financial services. KB Kookmin Card said the partnership aims to make AI agents safer to use and improve digital payments for customers in South Korea and Japan.

Meanwhile, SBI Holdings plans to use its experience in finance, AI, and cybersecurity to explore new payment services. The agreement follows KB Kookmin Card’s earlier stablecoin projects. In March, the company announced plans to develop a hybrid payment system with Avalanche and OpenAsset.

KB국민카드, 아발란체와 스테이블코인 결제모델 본격화🏦

KB금융그룹의 자회사 KB국민카드가 글로벌 메인넷 '아발란체', 국내 핀테크사 '오픈에셋'과 함께 스테이블코인 충전/결제/정산이 가능한 카드결제 모델 구축을 본격화했습니다.

이번 @avax 기반의 결제모델은 고객이 한 장의 카드로 일반… pic.twitter.com/Sxr04P5IWM

— Team1 Korea (@Team1KOR) March 31, 2026

In September, KB Kookmin Card also tested stablecoin payments at CU convenience stores. The trial involved BGF Retail, NICE Information Communication, and AhnLab Blockchain Company. It focused on how customers could use digital wallets and QR codes to make payments, including how transactions would be confirmed on a blockchain.