In a move that could reshape Korea’s digital finance landscape, the krw stablecoin initiative led by WEMADE has added another major global infrastructure partner.
Chainlink Labs joins WEMADE-led GAKS alliance
Chainlink Labs has formally joined the Global Alliance for KRW Stablecoin (GAKS), a consortium led by WEMADE and focused on building a comprehensive ecosystem for Korean won-backed stable assets.
WEMADE announced the partnership on January 27, 2026, noting that GAKS was originally launched in November 2025 to expand real-world use cases for KRW-pegged digital currencies. Moreover, the alliance aims to align these initiatives with global financial standards.
The move brings together blockchain security, data analytics, fintech services, and oracle technology under one coordinated framework. However, the central objective remains clear: to create a robust, compliant infrastructure for Korean digital assets that can scale internationally.
Expanding the technical stack for KRW-backed tokens
With this agreement, Chainlink Labs joins existing GAKS members Chainalysis, CertiK, and SentBe. Each firm contributes a distinct layer of capability to the ecosystem, covering everything from compliance to cross-border payments.
Chainlink operates the leading oracle platform in the digital asset space, connecting traditional financial systems and blockchain networks via secure data feeds. Moreover, its infrastructure underpins mission-critical applications across both decentralized finance and institutional markets.
Major financial institutions already using Chainlink include Swift, UBS, Euroclear, and Mastercard. The platform also processes data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, reinforcing its role as trusted middleware between public data sources and on-chain applications.
Within GAKS, the oracle provider will offer strategic support for establishing global standards and technical best practices. That said, its remit goes beyond infrastructure, as Chainlink Labs also intends to help members develop institutional digital asset use cases and tokenization strategies.
The alliance expects that experience gained from powering decentralized finance applications will translate into more reliable KRW-backed token deployments. In particular, members will be able to integrate Chainlink’s infrastructure for tokenized asset and enterprise-grade stablecoin projects.
WEMADE highlights milestone for trust and technical excellence
Kim SukWhan, Vice President of WEMADE, underlined the significance of the move for the alliance’s long-term goals. “Chainlink’s participation marks a significant milestone for GAKS in securing global-level technical excellence and trust,” he said.
According to Kim, closer collaboration with Chainlink will support the creation of a sound ecosystem around KRW-pegged stablecoins. Moreover, the partnership is expected to accelerate the rollout of compliant, high-assurance financial products in both domestic and international markets.
This emphasis on trust and reliability reflects the alliance’s broader ambition to make GAKS a reference model for regional stablecoin initiatives. However, achieving that goal requires sustained cooperation between infrastructure providers, analytics firms, and fintech platforms.
Comprehensive infrastructure for Korean digital assets
GAKS now operates as a multi-layered consortium covering several core segments of the blockchain value chain. The alliance combines security auditing, compliance analytics, payment services, and data infrastructure into one coordinated effort to support Korean digital assets.
Chainalysis brings blockchain data analytics and regulatory compliance tools, providing transaction monitoring and risk analysis. Moreover, CertiK adds smart contract and protocol security audits, helping protect users and institutions from critical vulnerabilities.
SentBe contributes fintech expertise and international remittance infrastructure, supporting cross-border value transfer and payment rails. That said, it is Chainlink’s oracle layer that completes the technical stack required for enterprise-grade, KRW-pegged instruments.
This multi-faceted structure is designed to address key challenges in deploying digital assets at scale, especially around security, transparency, and regulatory expectations. However, the partners also see an opportunity to set benchmarks for future regional stablecoin frameworks.
Building standards for KRW stablecoins in APAC
Johann Eid, Chief Business Officer at Chainlink Labs, described the collaboration as a pivotal step for Korea’s digital asset roadmap. “WEMADE and the GAKS alliance are building critical infrastructure for the next phase of digital assets in Korea,” he stated.
Through GAKS, Chainlink will provide industry expertise while offering members pathways to leverage its platform for new financial products. Moreover, the partnership is structured to support stablecoin and tokenization initiatives not only in Korea but across the wider Asia-Pacific region.
As the Global Alliance for KRW Stablecoin (GAKS) matures, its leaders aim to define reference architectures and governance practices for KRW-backed tokens. That said, any such standards must remain aligned with evolving regulatory requirements at both domestic and international levels.
WEMADE continues to work with specialized firms in security, analytics, and infrastructure to ensure that KRW-denominated stablecoins meet global financial expectations. The company focuses on real-world use cases, spanning payments and capital markets, while maintaining regulatory alignment.
Ultimately, GAKS seeks to build a trusted, scalable ecosystem that can support institutional adoption of Korean digital assets and position KRW-pegged stable instruments as credible tools in global finance.
