South Korean neobank KBank has filed a series of trademark applications tied to stablecoin wallets, signaling deeper plans in digital assets as it prepares for another attempt to go public.
According to records from the Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS), KBank submitted 13 trademark applications covering wallet names such as KSC Wallet, KSTA Wallet, Kstable Wallet, and Kbank SC Wallet.
The filings follow earlier applications submitted in July 2025 for potential stablecoin ticker symbols.
Trademark filings point to full-service wallet plans
The applications are registered across multiple categories, including software for digital currency and stablecoin transactions, cryptocurrency mining, NFT-related services, and broader financial technology products.
Descriptions in the KIPRIS database indicate the wallets could support remittances, payments, and settlement functions. Local media have interpreted the scope of the filings as pointing toward a full-service digital wallet rather than a limited custody or storage product.
KBank has not publicly detailed how or when the wallets would launch, nor whether they would be directly integrated with any existing exchange platforms.
Stablecoin push comes ahead of renewed IPO bid
The trademark activity arrives as KBank makes its third attempt to list shares in South Korea. The lender previously withdrew IPO plans in both 2023 and 2024 amid unfavorable market conditions.
In its latest IPO registration filing, KBank stated that proceeds from the offering would be used to expand its digital asset operations, alongside investments in technology infrastructure and retail banking services. The bank is reportedly targeting a KOSPI listing on March 5, 2026, according to South Korean outlet News1.
Cross-border stablecoin project already underway
Beyond trademark filings, KBank has recently moved to develop stablecoin-based payment infrastructure through international partnerships. The bank signed an agreement with South Korea’s BPMG, Thailand’s Kasikorn Bank, and Orbix Technology to build a cross-border settlement system using stablecoins.
The project is designed to support payments and remittances for Thai tourists and migrant workers in South Korea, an area where traditional banking services often involve high fees and slow processing times.
Regulatory backdrop favors early movers
KBank’s timing aligns with South Korea’s broader regulatory shift toward formal oversight of stablecoins and exchange-traded crypto products. Lawmakers are expected to finalize stablecoin-related legislation and crypto ETF rules in the first quarter of this year.
While the regulatory framework is still being finalized, major banks and crypto firms have already begun positioning themselves for compliant stablecoin issuance, custody, and payment services.
Upbit partnership gives KBank a strategic edge
KBank’s digital asset ambitions are closely tied to its role as the sole banking partner of Upbit, South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. Since the partnership began in 2020, KBank’s customer base has expanded more than fivefold, reaching roughly 15 million users.
That relationship could place KBank in a strong position if stablecoin wallets become a regulated part of Korea’s financial system, particularly as exchanges and banks move toward tighter integration under the country’s evolving crypto rules.
Tanya Petrusenko
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