South Korea Tests USDC Payments with BC Card and Base Collaboration

3 mins mins

Key Points:

BC Card partners with Base for USDC payments in Korea.
USDC payments will settle in Korean won locally.
Partnership aims to test feasibility and compliance.

BC Card, South Korea’s leading payment processor, is collaborating with Base to pilot a USDC-based payment system in Korea, integrating with local merchants via QR codes.

This partnership could redefine South Korea’s payment landscape, though official confirmations and market reactions remain limited beyond secondary reporting.

BC Card and Base Test USDC with Korean Merchants

BC Card and Base have embarked on an ambitious pilot program designed to integrate USDC stablecoin payments into Korea’s local economy. By connecting the Base wallet with BC Card’s QR code system, this project aims to evaluate the compliance and practicality of using stablecoins in routine transactions. “All references to the partnership seem to stem from secondary sources without direct attribution to individuals in positions of authority or official communication channels.”

The switch to USDC payments could bring significant transformations to how transactions are conducted in Korean retail environments. If successful, the pilot may pave the way for larger-scale projects, potentially influencing regional financial technologies. However, a lack of official confirmation casts uncertainty over its feasibility.

Reactions from the industry remain muted due to verification issues. Despite the absence of concrete evidence, speculation about the pilot’s potential impact includes fostering greater stablecoin integration. Yet, because no regulatory body has commented officially, the broader market remains in a wait-and-see mode.

USDC’s Market Stability and Potential Impact on Payments

Did you know? South Korea’s approach to stablecoin payments could reshape how decentralized finance interacts with traditional systems, reflecting a rising trend of institutions exploring blockchain-based payment solutions.

According to CoinMarketCap, USDC maintains a stable price of $1.00, with a market capital of $76 billion, marking it as a pivotal tool in proposed Korean payment trials. Over the past 30 days, USDC’s price has seen nominal fluctuations, which are typical for a stablecoin. The 24-hour trading volume reached $12.79 billion, reflecting heightened activity amidst ongoing discussions regarding stablecoin regulation.

usdc-daily-chart-368 — USDC(USDC), daily chart, screenshot on CoinMarketCap at 22:47 UTC on December 29, 2025. *Source: CoinMarketCap*

Research insights suggest that depending on regulatory environments, stablecoin payments could streamline cross-border transactions, enhancing financial efficiencies. However, the current uncertainty surrounding official endorsements underscores the challenges facing stablecoin deployment.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to do your own research before investing.