South Korea Pilots Blockchain-Based Deposit Tokens

Odaily News South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance has selected a new blockchain digital currency utilization pilot project under its 2026 regulatory sandbox framework. The project will explore the use of deposit tokens for executing business promotion expenses, aiming to test the application of blockchain technology in national fiscal operations.Currently, business promotion expenses in South Korea are primarily executed through government procurement cards, and their use during restricted hours such as late nights or weekends requires additional justification. Limited by the "National Fiscal Management Act," previous payment methods were relatively singular. The approval of this regulatory sandbox creates an exception for the use of deposit tokens.The Ministry stated that by pre-setting conditions such as expenditure timing and industry categories, deposit tokens are expected to enhance execution transparency and reduce the cost burden on small business owners by removing intermediaries from the payment flow. The Ministry of Economy and Finance plans to officially launch the pilot in the fourth quarter of 2026, with Sejong City designated as the first implementation area. Furthermore, South Korean regulators are simultaneously strengthening oversight of stablecoins, tokenized real-world assets, and automated trading.