[비즈한국] Amidst the intensifying competition for stablecoin-related trademark filings in the IT and financial sectors, it has been confirmed that Naver035420 has also joined the race. Naver Financial, a fintech subsidiary that provides electronic finance and simple payment services for Naver, recently filed for five stablecoin-related trademarks. Naver Financial has expressed its ambition to enter the stablecoin market in line with recent government policies.
On the 25th, Naver Financial filed for five stablecoin trademarks: 'KRWZ', 'NWON', 'KRNP', 'NKRW', and 'KRWNP'. These are combinations of 'KRW' (Korean Won) and the letters 'N' and 'NP', which represent Naver and Naver Pay. According to the intellectual property information service Kipris, Naver Financial registered these five trademarks across three product classifications (classes 09, 36, and 42).
The designated goods include token issuance and redemption services, cryptocurrency hardware wallets, cryptocurrency financial transaction services, electronic currency payment processing services, user authentication services using blockchain technology, and downloadable computer software for managing cryptocurrency transactions using blockchain technology, all of which are registered identically for all five trademarks. A Naver Financial official stated, "We filed for the trademarks proactively ahead of the institutionalization of stablecoins. No concrete entry plan has been finalized yet."
Naver Financial changed its public-facing brand name to Naver Pay in August 2023. This was done to ensure consistency, as the Naver Pay brand is used for all financial services operated by Naver Financial, including real estate and securities. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of its service this year, Naver Pay held the 'Naver Pay (Npay) Media Day 2025' on the 26th and unveiled its mid-to-long-term vision for the next decade, titled 'Technology that Expands Finance.' During the event, it also revealed its intention to enter the KRW stablecoin market.
Park Sang-jin, CEO of Naver Financial (Naver Pay), said at the media day, "The KRW stablecoin will become a key medium for future digital finance, connecting users across borders," adding, "As a platform equipped with the nation's largest simple payment ecosystem and stable digital financial technology, Naver Pay will play a leading role in industry consortiums and move quickly in line with policy introductions."
Recently, the financial and IT sectors have been scrambling to register stablecoin-related trademarks. Companies appear to be securing trademarks in anticipation that the market will open following the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration. On the 24th, NHN KCP060250, an electronic payment subsidiary of NHN, filed for 11 stablecoin trademarks, including 'NSKRW', 'PSKRW', and 'KRWNS'. On the 23rd, foreign currency payment company Travel Wallet filed for 'KRWTW', 'KRWTC', and 'KRWTT', preparing for market entry.
IT giant Kakao035720, considered a beneficiary of AI and virtual asset fields since the launch of the new government, also moved quickly. Kakao Pay filed for 18 trademarks on the 17th, including 'KPKRW', 'PKRW', 'KKRW', 'KRWK', and 'KRWKP', while Kakao Bank323410 filed for 12 trademarks on the 23rd, such as 'KKBKRW', 'BKRW', and 'KRWKKB'.
The financial sector has also jumped into the filing race. On the 23rd, KB Kookmin Bank filed for 32 trademarks, including 'KBKRW', 'KRWN', and 'KRWH', for goods such as stablecoin electronic transfer and stablecoin financial transaction services. In the financial investment industry, Mirae Asset Consulting was the first to act, registering trademarks such as 'KRWM' and 'KRWX' on the 18th.
With the government's stance on introducing a KRW stablecoin and the legislature preparing to enact a basic law on digital assets, industry expectations have risen. However, the Bank of Korea, the central bank, continues to issue warnings regarding the stability of stablecoins.
In its Financial Stability Report released on the 25th, specifically the section on 'Stablecoin Trends and Potential Risks to Financial Stability,' the Bank of Korea stated, "Discussions are underway in Korea to establish a regulatory framework for stablecoins through the second phase of virtual asset legislation," adding that "if the institutionalization of stablecoins occurs, their usage is likely to expand, and their impact on the financial system could increase."
Additionally, it noted, "We must not overlook the fact that the spread of stablecoins could act as a potential risk factor for financial stability and the economy as a whole," and emphasized, "To minimize the potential risks of stablecoins, careful review is needed regarding value stability, methods for maintaining confidence in reserve assets and related infrastructure, and requirements for issuers."