A leading payments industry news source for more than 17 years. Glenbrook curates the news and keeps you abreast of the important daily headlines in payments.

Search Payments News

March 24, 2025

On the web

A Cup of Coffee with Deposit Tokens… Bank of Korea's 'Digital Currency' Experiment

Bloomingbit

"The Bank of Korea and financial authorities will begin the 'digital currency experiment' for the first time next month. Bank deposits can be converted into 'deposit tokens' and used at convenience stores, cafes, bookstores, and more. The Bank of Korea, Financial Services Commission, and Financial Supervisory Service announced on the 24th that they will conduct a real transaction test of digital currency and open deposit token e-wallets with Korean nationality among users of seven banks from the 1st of next month to the end of June. Transactions are made through QR codes."

March 18, 2025

On the web

Korea’s Central Bank Says It Won’t Hold Bitcoin Because of Major Risks

CCN

"The Bank of Korea has said that Bitcoin does not meet the nation’s or the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) standards and, therefore, cannot be adopted as a foreign reserve asset. According to the BoK, it’s too volatile, yet this hasn’t deterred El Salvador and now the U.S., which have officially adopted BTC into their economies."

March 11, 2025

On the web

Korea Prepares for Large-Scale CBDC Test Involving 100,000 Consumers

Chosunbiz

"A real transaction test of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) targeting 100,000 financial consumers is expected to be conducted as early as this month. Test participants are expected to use deposit tokens issued by commercial banks based on CBDC to purchase goods at various merchants, including convenience stores and cafes."

September 26, 2024

On the web

Bank of Korea to Launch CBDC Payment Trial in Supermarkets

Bitcoin News

"South Korea’s central bank, the Bank of Korea, will soon allow participants to use digital tokens for payments at supermarkets and convenience stores in a central bank digital currency (CBDC) trial. Starting in December, 100,000 participants will be part of this test."

August 2, 2024

On the web

May 17, 2023

On the web

Samsung and Bank of Korea Partner for In-Depth Offline CBDC Payments Research

Cryptonews

"Samsung Electronics and the Bank of Korea have inked a partnership to research Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) technology that could facilitate offline transactions.  On Monday, the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding at Samsung’s headquarters in the south of Seoul, according to a report by The Korea Herald.  The collaboration aims to eliminate the reliance on the internet and introduce a new phase of smooth offline transactions."

December 19, 2022

On the wires

GLN and KB Join Forces to Establish Global Payment Network

PR Newswire

“GLN International (GLN), the global payment network company established by Hana Financial Group, signed MOU with KB Kookmin Bank to join the global payment network. One of the largest Korean bank which has fiercely competed in a global market, decided to cooperate with GLN to expand the network together.”

Goodpods Top 100 Payments Podcasts

Listen now to Payments on Fire™ podcast

Payments News

Stay on top of the rapidly evolving payments world with Glenbrook’s free curated news feed, delivered daily to your inbox.

Payments Views

Read our commentary and opinion blog written by members of the Glenbrook team on payments industry topics, large and small.

Glenbrook’s live and on-demand workshops help you understand and apply the innovations shaping the payments industry. Register today or schedule a custom workshop for your team.