South Korean digital bank Kbank has partnered with Ripple to trial blockchain-based overseas remittances.
The agreement, signed in Seoul by Kbank CEO Choi Woo-hyung and Ripple Asia-Pacific managing director Fiona Murray, will test whether blockchain infrastructure can improve speed, cost and transparency in cross-border payments.
The pilot is already underway, with initial phases testing app-based remittance systems and progressing to integration of customer accounts and internal banking infrastructure.
The trial includes onchain transfers to countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Thailand, as part of efforts to validate system stability and real-world use cases.
The partnership comes as South Korea evaluates new stablecoin and digital asset regulations, prompting financial firms to test blockchain payment solutions ahead of formal rules.
Proposed legislation could classify stablecoins as foreign exchange payment instruments, requiring asset backing and regulatory oversight for cross-border use.
The move reflects a broader trend among South Korean banks and payment firms accelerating blockchain partnerships to prepare for a regulated digital asset ecosystem.