South Korea Considers Won-Based Stablecoin Amid Forex Concerns

According to Cointelegraph, the Governor of the Bank of Korea, Rhee Chang-yong, has expressed openness to the idea of issuing a won-based stablecoin. However, he remains cautious about the potential challenges in managing the foreign exchange aspects of such a token. During a recent press conference, Rhee highlighted that a won-based stablecoin could simplify exchanges with dollar-backed stablecoins, potentially increasing demand for the latter and complicating foreign exchange management. This development comes as South Korea's newly elected President, Lee Jae-myung, advances his agenda on cryptocurrency regulation, a key promise from his campaign. The country's foreign exchange reserves have been declining, with the Bank of Korea reporting a drop from $415.6 billion at the end of December to $404.6 billion by the end of May, marking an $11 billion decrease over six months. In a move to create a more favorable regulatory environment, President Lee's Democratic Party introduced the Digital Asset Basic Act on June 10. This legislation would permit companies with a minimum equity capital of $368,000 to issue stablecoins, provided they maintain adequate reserves for refunds and obtain approval from the Financial Services Commission (FSC). The FSC is also investigating local exchanges regarding transaction fees, aligning with President Lee's commitment to reducing costs for young traders. The stablecoin market is currently dominated by US dollar-backed tokens, with Tether (USDT) and Circle's USDC leading the space. However, Circle's euro-pegged stablecoin, EURC, is gaining momentum, with its market capitalization rising to $203 million, a 156% increase since the beginning of the year. Circle's stock experienced significant gains following indications from US lawmakers that the stablecoin-regulation GENIUS Act would likely pass in the House.