Crypto.com Partners with South Korea’s KG Inicis to Scale Crypto Payments for Foreign Tourists

TheNewsCryptoPublished on 2026-03-17Last updated on 2026-03-17

Abstract

Crypto.com has partnered with KG Inicis, South Korea's leading payment gateway, to expand crypto payment access for foreign tourists and enhance digital transactions in the country. KG Inicis will integrate and promote Crypto.com Pay across its extensive merchant network, which processes over 400 million transactions annually. This collaboration enables international visitors to pay with digital assets for goods and services in South Korea, while merchants can receive payments in both fiat and crypto. KG Inicis emphasized that linking digital assets with the real economy is key to future financial competitiveness. The partnership also includes joint marketing and product development in compliance with local regulations. This move aligns with South Korean efforts to strengthen its crypto framework, including lifting a long-standing ban and developing new legislation to regulate digital assets.

Crypto.com announced a collaboration with KG Inicis, South Korea’s leading payment gateway, to scale the digital asset payments ecosystem by allowing crypto payments for foreign tourists and improving the ease of digital transactions across the country.

Expanding Crypto Payment Access

According to today’s announcement, KG Inicis will support and promote the use of Crypto.com Pay across its merchant network, which handles over 400 million transactions per year and holds a 40% market share as the country’s largest integrated payment platform. Also, Crypto.com Pay allows merchants to receive payment quickly in fiat or crypto, which gives customers more flexibility in how they pay for products.

With that, this collaboration would allow foreign visitors to South Korea to pay for a variety of goods and services using digital assets, as well as international customers to transact easily on Korean business platforms using crypto.

Also, the announcement noted, “A payment infrastructure that bridges digital assets with the real economy will become a core competitiveness of the future finance and commerce industries. We plan to expand an infrastructure where digital assets can be utilised in actual economic activities, all while ensuring a solid legal and regulatory foundation,” said a representative of KG Inicis.

Further, Crypto.com and KG Inicis plan to work together, which includes joint promotions, marketing campaigns, and developing new products and services in compliance with local rules.

South Korea Strengthens Crypto Framework

Meanwhile, South Korea is also taking steps to boost crypto adoption by scrapping a nine-year ban and has set up new protocols permitting listed bodies and professional companies to resume trading under strict regulations. Also, to regulate digital assets, the Digital Asset Basic Act, currently under development, would establish rules for crypto platforms, stablecoins, and other crypto-related funds.

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Related Questions

QWhat is the main purpose of the partnership between Crypto.com and KG Inicis?

AThe partnership aims to scale the digital asset payments ecosystem by allowing crypto payments for foreign tourists and improving the ease of digital transactions across South Korea.

QHow significant is KG Inicis in South Korea's payment market?

AKG Inicis is South Korea's largest integrated payment platform, handling over 400 million transactions per year and holding a 40% market share.

QWhat benefits does Crypto.com Pay offer to merchants according to the announcement?

ACrypto.com Pay allows merchants to receive payments quickly in either fiat currency or cryptocurrency, providing customers with more flexibility in payment methods.

QWhat did the KG Inicis representative say about the future of payment infrastructure?

AThe representative stated that a payment infrastructure bridging digital assets with the real economy will become a core competitiveness of future finance and commerce industries, with plans to expand such infrastructure while ensuring a solid legal and regulatory foundation.

QWhat regulatory development is mentioned regarding South Korea's crypto framework?

ASouth Korea is developing the Digital Asset Basic Act, which will establish rules for crypto platforms, stablecoins, and other crypto-related funds to regulate digital assets.

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