@OndoFinance has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kakaopay Securities to pursue the global on-chain distribution of South Korean listed stocks, the two companies announced on Septemb
@OndoFinance has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kakaopay Securities to pursue the global on-chain distribution of South Korean listed stocks, the two companies announced on September 28 during Korea Blockchain Week (KBW) in Seoul.
The agreement marks a notable shift in approach. Rather than simply giving domestic Korean investors access to overseas financial products, the partnership targets a two-way model that tokenizes South Korean assets for global investors.The agreement centers on three pillars: building an overseas distribution framework for South Korean listed stocks, joint research on stock tokenization infrastructure, and operating a joint task force for business collaboration targeting overseas retail investors.
The Ondo partnership will initially focus on sourcing and holding Korean shares for overseas investors, with Kakaopay Securities operating a foreign investor omnibus account that pools multiple investors' holdings in a single account.The three parties plan to establish a joint working group this year to study matters including stock sourcing and custody, token issuance and redemption, reconciliation between stocks and tokens, and methods for representing shareholder rights such as dividends and voting.
Ondo Finance has expanded into equities after establishing a presence in the global market with tokenized U.S. Treasury products. In May, its tokenized-stock business surpassed $1 billion in total value locked about eight months after launch. The Kakaopay partnership extends that momentum into Asian markets, where demand from overseas investors for Korean equities has historically been constrained by time-zone differences, settlement friction, and limited distribution channels. The companies said tokenization could enable more flexible trading hours and settlement, easing time-zone barriers.
The deal was announced against the backdrop of KBW 2026 (Korea Blockchain Week), which returned to Seoul from September 29 to October 1, 2026.Korea Blockchain Week is Asia's leading gathering for the global Web3 industry, bringing founders, investors, and decision-makers together in Seoul, one of the world's most influential digital asset markets.
It is worth noting that the agreements do not represent a commercial launch of tokenized Korean stocks. Any rollout would depend on technical feasibility, regulatory requirements, investor eligibility, and investor-protection standards in Korea and the relevant overseas markets.Actual commercialization will be discussed subject to domestic and international legal review, regulatory compliance, and investor protection principles.
Sources:Kakao Pay Securities eyes global push with tokenized stocks (Korea Herald)KakaoPay Securities to push tokenisation and overseas distribution of Korean stocks (Digital Today)KBW 2026 Returns to Seoul September 29-October 1 (PR Newswire)
