What if the next wave of financial transformation isn't about inventing new currencies, but about reimagining trust itself? As blockchain finance moves to the center of global economic dialogue, Korea—long a fast follower in digital innovation—now stands poised to set the pace for the world's financial future[1].
In today's rapidly evolving financial markets, business leaders face rising pressure to adapt to the digital asset revolution. The convergence of cryptocurrency trading, stablecoins, and blockchain technology is no longer a theoretical trend; it's reshaping the very infrastructure of global finance. At the 2025 APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju, Oh Kyoung-suk, CEO of Dunamu, challenged the status quo: "The history of money is about how the guarantor of its value has changed. If fiat currency relied on national institutions for trust, in the digital asset era, that trust is guaranteed by algorithms and network consensus"[1].
Why does this matter?
For institutional investors and financial executives, the implications are profound. Blockchain's distributed ledger system eliminates the need for centralized intermediaries, reducing transaction costs and expanding market reach. Stablecoins, with a global capitalization nearing $300 billion, now bridge the gap between traditional finance and Web3, enabling new forms of digital asset management, lending, and cross-border payments[1]. As 560 million people worldwide hold digital assets and the top 21 digital wallets exceed 1.2 billion downloads, the shift from analog to digital finance is accelerating at an unprecedented scale.
Dunamu's Strategic Blueprint for Digital Finance
Dunamu, best known for operating Korea's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Upbit, is moving beyond its exchange roots to architect the next generation of financial infrastructure. Four core initiatives define this vision:
- Giwa Chain: A blockchain system optimized for stablecoin issuance and circulation, laying the groundwork for programmable digital currency innovation.
- GIWA Wallet: A next-generation crypto wallet service that seamlessly connects Web2 and Web3, empowering users to move assets and identities across the evolving internet.
- VerifyVASP: A global travel rule solution linking 150 institutions across 30 countries, setting new standards for compliance and trust in digital asset transactions.
- Upbit Custody: An institutional-grade digital asset custody service, addressing the growing demand for secure, regulated digital asset management among major investors[1].
These services aren't just technical upgrades—they are foundational pillars for a new financial ecosystem, where digital asset custody, crypto wallet services, and blockchain-based compliance solutions converge to support institutional investment and global trade.
The Deeper Shift: From Designing Money to Designing Trust
Oh's message to the APEC CEO Summit was clear: "We are no longer in the era of designing money, but in the era of designing trust." This philosophical shift positions blockchain not just as a tool for fintech innovation, but as the architecture for a new financial order—one where transparency, programmability, and network consensus underpin every transaction[1].
What does this mean for your business?
- How will your organization adapt as digital currencies and stablecoins become central to cross-border commerce?
- Are you prepared to leverage blockchain technology to reduce friction, increase transparency, and unlock new business models?
- What role will your enterprise play in a financial ecosystem where trust is algorithmic and global, rather than institutional and local?
For organizations navigating this transformation, understanding regulatory compliance frameworks becomes crucial as digital finance regulations evolve. Similarly, businesses exploring blockchain integration can benefit from robust internal control systems that ensure security and transparency in digital asset management.
The shift toward algorithmic trust also demands sophisticated security-first compliance strategies that protect against emerging cyber threats while maintaining operational efficiency. As financial institutions embrace automation platforms to streamline blockchain operations, the integration of AI-powered tools becomes essential for managing complex digital asset workflows.
A Vision Worth Sharing:
South Korea's ascent from regional fintech innovator to global standard-setter in Web3 governance is a call to action for business leaders everywhere. As regulatory frameworks evolve and digital finance becomes mainstream, those who embrace blockchain finance today will shape the architecture of tomorrow's financial markets[1][3].
Organizations seeking to implement these technologies can leverage flexible workflow automation platforms that support both traditional and blockchain-based processes. The convergence of AI-driven automation with blockchain infrastructure creates unprecedented opportunities for financial innovation and operational excellence.
Are you ready to move from adapting to change, to actively designing the future of digital finance?
What does "designing trust" mean in the context of blockchain finance?
"Designing trust" refers to shifting the guarantor of value from centralized institutions (governments, banks) to cryptographic algorithms, protocol rules, and network consensus. Instead of legal or institutional enforcement alone, transparency, immutability, and protocol-level controls provide assurance for transactions and asset custody.
Why should institutional investors care about stablecoins and blockchain infrastructure?
Stablecoins and blockchain reduce intermediaries, lower transaction costs, enable faster cross-border payments, and open new asset-management and lending models. With stablecoin market capitalization approaching $300 billion, institutions can use them for liquidity layering, settlement rails, and programmable financial products while adapting to evolving custody and compliance needs.
What are Dunamu's core initiatives for building digital financial infrastructure?
Dunamu's strategy centers on four pillars: Giwa Chain (a blockchain optimized for stablecoin issuance and programmable currency), GIWA Wallet (bridging Web2 and Web3 identities and assets), VerifyVASP (a travel-rule compliance network connecting institutions across countries), and Upbit Custody (institutional-grade secure custody services for digital assets).
How does VerifyVASP help meet regulatory travel-rule requirements?
VerifyVASP connects participating virtual asset service providers to exchange required sender/recipient information securely, automating portions of travel-rule compliance. By linking institutions across jurisdictions, it standardizes data exchange practices and reduces friction for regulated cross-border transfers.
What role does institutional custody play in mainstreaming digital assets?
Institutional custody addresses security, regulatory, and governance concerns—providing insured, compliant storage, access controls, auditability, and operational procedures required by large investors. Services like Upbit Custody make it feasible for pension funds, asset managers, and corporates to hold crypto assets within established risk frameworks.
How should businesses prepare for the emerging era of algorithmic trust?
Businesses should (1) assess how digital assets fit business models and payments, (2) upgrade internal controls and security-first compliance, (3) adopt interoperable wallets and custody options, (4) engage with travel-rule and KYC/AML solutions, and (5) pilot automation and AI tools to manage blockchain workflows and risk monitoring.
What operational benefits does blending AI-driven automation with blockchain infrastructure provide?
Combining AI and automation streamlines on-chain/off-chain reconciliation, detects anomalous activity in real time, automates compliance reporting (e.g., travel-rule messaging), and optimizes liquidity and settlement processes—reducing manual work and operational risk while increasing speed and scalability.
How does GIWA Wallet bridge Web2 and Web3 experiences?
GIWA Wallet is designed to connect traditional (Web2) identity and account systems with blockchain-native (Web3) keys and assets. It enables users to move value and identity attributes across ecosystems securely, improving usability for mainstream users and enterprises adopting decentralised services.
What are the main risks companies should manage when adopting digital finance?
Key risks include regulatory uncertainty, custody and key-management vulnerabilities, smart-contract and protocol bugs, privacy and data protection issues, and operational risks from immature processes. Implementing strong internal controls, third‑party audits, compliant custody, and robust incident response reduces these risks.
How does Korea's leadership in Web3 governance affect global finance?
Korea's proactive development of infrastructure, compliance solutions, and enterprise services can set operational and regulatory precedents that other jurisdictions adopt. As a fast follower turned potential standard-setter, Korea's practices—especially around stablecoins, custody, and travel‑rule implementation—could influence global norms.
What metrics indicate the scale of the digital asset transition today?
Relevant indicators include stablecoin market capitalization (nearing $300 billion), the number of people holding digital assets (about 560 million globally), and wallet adoption (top 21 wallets exceeding 1.2 billion downloads)—signals of broad consumer and institutional engagement.
How can enterprises integrate blockchain payments without disrupting existing systems?
Start with hybrid integrations: use middleware or workflow automation platforms that link legacy payment rails to blockchain rails, pilot stablecoin settlements for specific corridors or use cases, adopt compliant custody and KYC providers, and iterate—phasing in broader adoption as controls and interoperability mature.
What immediate steps should a financial institution take to stay competitive in Web3 finance?
Immediate steps: evaluate client demand for digital assets, establish partnerships with custody and compliance providers, run controlled pilots (stablecoin payments, tokenized assets), train compliance and operations teams on blockchain tooling, and engage with industry consortia to influence standards and interoperability.
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