Tether Applies for Trademark Registration in South Korea, Possibly Preparing to Enter the South Korean Market

According to South Korean media reports, Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, has recently filed seven trademark applications in South Korea, including the “Tether” logo and Tether Gold (XAUT), a gold-backed stablecoin. This marks Tether’s first application in South Korea for its corporate name and logo trademarks; previously, it had only applied for trademarks covering stablecoin product names. Industry insiders believe this move may signal Tether’s preparation to enter the South Korean market. South Korea’s proposed Digital Asset Basic Act (Phase II Virtual Asset Act) is currently under discussion and includes a provision requiring overseas stablecoin issuers to establish local subsidiaries in South Korea before conducting circulation-related business. Tether’s trademark filings may thus represent a strategic pre-emptive move ahead of its competitor Circle. Jeremy Allaire, Circle’s founder and CEO, visited South Korea in April to discuss potential collaboration opportunities with local financial holding companies and virtual asset exchanges. He described South Korea as “the world’s most dynamic virtual asset market—and a leading candidate for the most mature stablecoin market in the future.”