Hana Financial Partners with Circle and Crypto.com for Stablecoin Tourist Payments in South Korea

Key Highlights

• Hana Card introduces USDC stablecoin payment capability for international tourists visiting Korea.

• International travelers can load prepaid cards using stablecoins to make transactions at local businesses.

• Crypto.com card users receive 5% rewards in CRO tokens to promote cryptocurrency adoption.

• Initiative evaluates stablecoin compatibility with established payment infrastructure.

• Hana positions itself for Korean won-backed stablecoins as new regulations approach.

South Korea’s Hana Financial Group has introduced a stablecoin-based payment solution designed specifically for international tourists. The program enables foreign visitors to utilize U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins when making purchases at Korean retail locations. This initiative represents an effort to merge digital currency technologies with Korea’s existing payment card infrastructure while providing practical usage scenarios.

Spearheaded by Hana Card, the financial conglomerate’s credit card division, the project involves collaborations with prominent cryptocurrency companies Circle and Crypto.com. International tourists can load prepaid payment cards with stablecoins and use them for transactions at participating retail establishments throughout the country. This approach provides a testing ground for stablecoin functionality within regulated payment frameworks.

Hana Financial Group structured this program to broaden stablecoin acceptance among the tourist demographic while collecting valuable usage data. The initiative includes promotional rewards to drive early adoption. These strategies allow Hana to assess whether stablecoins can function effectively as a widely accepted payment instrument.

USDC from Circle Powers Tourist Digital Transactions

Circle’s USDC, a stablecoin pegged to the United States dollar, serves as the primary digital currency for this payment program. Each USDC token maintains parity with one U.S. dollar, providing transaction stability. Tourists holding USDC can conduct purchases at retail locations enrolled in the program throughout South Korea.

The Hana Card pilot program examines stablecoin compatibility with existing card processing networks and point-of-sale systems. This partnership follows a strategic alliance between Hana and Circle established in December 2025. The collaboration focuses on expanding USDC applications in payment processing, transaction settlements, and international financial services throughout Korea.

This USDC-focused program also prepares Hana Financial Group for emerging regulatory standards. South Korea is formulating the Digital Asset Basic Act, which will establish guidelines for stablecoin creation and user safeguards. Hana’s experimental program helps connect stablecoins with institutional banking systems and domestic payment infrastructure before official regulations take effect.

Crypto.com Payment Cards Feature Token Rewards for Visitors

The program additionally incorporates Crypto.com’s prepaid Visa cards to facilitate stablecoin-backed transactions. International visitors making purchases with these cards earn 5 percent rewards paid in CRO, the native cryptocurrency of Crypto.com. This incentive structure promotes participation while familiarizing tourists with cryptocurrency payment options available in Korea.

Hana Card processes roughly half of all foreign card payments in South Korea, providing substantial testing capacity. This market position enables comprehensive monitoring of transaction data and user preferences regarding stablecoin payments. The program also deepens collaborative relationships with global digital asset platforms.

These coordinated initiatives demonstrate Hana Financial Group’s comprehensive approach to preparing for stablecoin-integrated payment systems. Future plans involve investigating Korean won-denominated stablecoins through a banking consortium with domestic financial institutions. By validating USDC and Crypto.com card systems, Hana builds essential infrastructure for future stablecoin deployment in Korea’s regulated banking environment.

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