South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance will launch a pilot program using blockchain-based deposit tokens for government spending starting in Q4 2026.
The trial, approved under the 2026 regulatory sandbox, will replace traditional government purchasing cards with tokenized deposits for business promotion expenses. This is the second deposit-token pilot in Treasury operations (after the earlier EV-charging subsidy program).
Key benefits:
- Programmable tokens with spending limits, time restrictions, and industry-specific rules
- Better real-time oversight and fewer manual audits
- Lower transaction fees by removing card network intermediaries
The pilot will run in Sejong City after selecting participating firms. If successful, the ministry plans to expand the program nationwide, marking a major step toward real-world tokenized public finance.
