KB Kookmin Card and SBI Holdings are separately exploring the use of artificial intelligence for identity verification and the implementation of cryptocurrency payments for Japanese tourists in South Korea. Both companies have yet to release formal details regarding a potential partnership.
KB Kookmin Card has been active in the digital payments space, having completed a stablecoin payment pilot at CU convenience stores by late September 2026. The company also joined the Mastercard Crypto Partner Program in September 2026 and collaborated with MoonPay.
On September 29, 2026, KB Kookmin Card signed a memorandum of understanding with SY Polaris to test AI-driven payment systems. Additionally, the firm has filed patents for a hybrid card that integrates both credit and stablecoin functionalities.
SBI Holdings, through its subsidiary SBI DigiTrust, is currently testing stablecoin-based QR code payments for travelers between Japan and South Korea. This pilot, which began between late September and early October 2026, involves partners NICE Information & Telecommunication and DSRV.
The SBI DigiTrust trial covers a network of approximately 1.2 million merchants. The project aims to evaluate the commercial viability and efficiency of stablecoin payments at scale, though KB Kookmin Card is not currently listed as a participant in this specific trial.
