BDACS, a digital asset infrastructure specialist, announced that its Korean won stablecoin KRW1 has joined Circle's Arc mainnet, which launched on the 16th. The company has been selected as the only stablecoin issuer for Arc in South Korea. This milestone expands KRW1's multi-chain strategy and positions the firm within Circle's open financial network.
Arc Mainnet Launch and KRW1 Integration
Arc is a new layer-1 blockchain introduced by Circle that aims to provide open financial infrastructure for both institutions and individuals. Following its mainnet transition, the network now offers lending, foreign exchange, tokenized assets, and stablecoin payment services. KRW1 has completed live integration with Arc and has officially begun its service at this launch.
A Broader Open Finance Network
Circle designed Arc as an open blockchain environment where institutional and retail users can access financial services on a shared infrastructure. The mainnet debut brings new capabilities that combine traditional finance functions with blockchain-based settlement. BDACS sees this as an opportunity for KRW1 to participate in a wider digital asset ecosystem from the start.
Onchain Foreign Exchange Expansion Plans
BDACS plans to sequentially expand KRW1-based foreign exchange services in connection with Circle's StableFX offering. The company intends to implement foreign exchange between the Korean won and global stablecoins directly onchain. This approach aims to help domestic companies and institutions use won liquidity more efficiently within the Arc digital ecosystem.
Regulatory Alignment and Phased Rollout
The company emphasized that KRW1 issuance and related services will be rolled out in phases to align with South Korea's stablecoin laws, institutions, and regulatory framework. BDACS plans to reflect the direction of domestic policy and compliance requirements as they develop. This careful approach is intended to ensure legal clarity while building trust with institutional participants.
Executive Perspective
BDACS CEO Ryu Hong-yeol said the cooperation with Arc that began on the testnet last year has become a commercial service within one year. He described the transition as meaningful and noted the company's position as the only domestic won stablecoin issuer. Ryu said BDACS will broaden KRW1 use cases including onchain foreign exchange and strengthen the global competitiveness of won-based digital assets.
Strategic Significance for the Korean Market
By becoming the only Arc stablecoin issuer in South Korea, BDACS gains a differentiated position in the domestic digital asset sector. The integration allows KRW1 to serve as a bridge between the Korean won and global blockchain-based financial services. It also supports the company's broader goal of connecting Korean institutions to onchain capital markets.
Institutional Use Cases
KRW1 is expected to support institution-focused services such as lending, foreign exchange, tokenized asset transactions, and stablecoin payments within Arc. The network's open infrastructure may enable Korean businesses to settle transactions and manage liquidity using a regulated won-based instrument. This could reduce reliance on traditional intermediaries for certain cross-border and digital asset operations.
Korea Blockchain Week Side Event
BDACS will co-host a Korea Blockchain Week 2026 side event titled Bridging Finance Onchain with Circle, Kyobo Life, and SBI Holdings on October 1. The event is designed as an extension of the partnership following the Arc mainnet launch. Industry figures from domestic and global digital asset markets will gather to discuss stablecoins and the development of onchain financial infrastructure.
The addition of KRW1 to Circle's Arc mainnet signals a meaningful step for won-based stablecoin infrastructure in South Korea. It combines Circle's new blockchain network with BDACS's local regulatory awareness and institutional focus. As the multi-chain strategy expands through StableFX and industry events, KRW1 is positioned to support broader onchain financial activity.