Photo courtesy of Yonhap News

 

 

[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] KakaoBank has identified a Korean won–based stablecoin initiative and the acquisition of a capital company as key pillars of its mid- to long-term growth strategy.

Speaking during the company’s first-quarter earnings conference call on May 6, CFO Kwon Tae-hoon said that while it is difficult to disclose specifics ahead of legislation on KRW stablecoins, the bank is working with Kakao and Kakao Pay to build a highly scalable stablecoin ecosystem.

“Given the Kakao Group’s extensive infrastructure spanning payments, banking, and securities—closely integrated with everyday life—we expect to collaborate with domestic and global partners to support the circulation and use of KRW stablecoins,” Kwon said.

He emphasized that KakaoBank, as both a bank and a platform, is exploring opportunities across the entire stablecoin value chain—from issuance and custody to payments—with the goal of generating fee-based revenues such as dividends, custody fees, and service charges.

Another key strategic focus is the acquisition of a capital firm. KakaoBank plans to complete an acquisition within the year to strengthen its corporate finance capabilities and enter the non-bank lending market. Kwon noted that improving the credit rating of the acquired capital firm could lower funding costs and quickly enhance profitability.

The bank also aims to leverage group synergies, including its proprietary credit scoring system and affiliated loan comparison services. Capital firms typically deliver higher returns on equity (ROE) than traditional banks, and KakaoBank expects meaningful financial contributions following the acquisition.

Meanwhile, KakaoBank announced plans to increase its shareholder return ratio to 50% this year and gradually raise dividends per share (DPS) starting next year. “Beginning from fiscal year 2027, we plan to implement a shareholder return policy based on DPS, maintaining the previous year’s level while pursuing gradual increases,” Kwon added.

 

 

 

AlphaBIZ Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)