Hashed Open Finance, a subsidiary of crypto venture capital firm Hashed, has introduced Maroo, a Layer 1 blockchain built for the Korean won economy. The network is presented as a sovereign blockchain with a public, open environment, while also giving companies tools to manage compliance needs tied to financial transactions, including auditing and privacy.
KRW stablecoins sit at the center of the fee model
Maroo plans to use KRW stablecoins to pay transaction fees on the network. The stated goal is to make onboarding easier for users and reduce the volatility that usually comes with crypto-denominated gas costs. The project also includes OKRW, a stablecoin pegged 1:1 to KRW, which is meant to give businesses in the KRW digital economy more predictable transaction expenses.
Hashed says this structure is designed to connect the Korean won economy with the broader Web3 ecosystem. In its view, stablecoin-based infrastructure can remove a key barrier for businesses that need stable operating costs rather than fee exposure linked to crypto market swings.
Dual-track design for open use and regulated activity
Maroo uses a dual-track architecture made up of the Open Path for open innovation and the Regulated Path for institutional activity that must operate within regulatory constraints. The source material argues that sovereign blockchains need more than speed and cheap transactions. They also need decentralization, public participation, and interoperability with ecosystems such as Ethereum and Solana to tap global liquidity.
The article points to Plasma, Stable, and Codex as examples showing the value of high throughput and low fees. It specifically notes that Plasma, backed by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, enabled free USDT transfers and reached $5.6 billion in TVL within one week. Hashed’s framing is that the next step for sovereign chains is handling privacy, compliance, and ecosystem interoperability at the same time.
ZK proofs, DID, and observer nodes
On the privacy side, Maroo integrates zero-knowledge proofs and decentralized identifier systems. This combination is intended to let users prove regulatory compliance without exposing private information. The design also includes observer nodes, which would allow regulators to monitor activity within the legal framework.
The network is also being positioned for autonomous finance use cases. According to the announcement, Maroo supports AI agents through AAA, short for Avatar Authentication Agent, assigning identity and permissions so agents can only access authorized transactions. It also includes a kill switch aimed at blocking fraudulent or unauthorized actions.
Built to align with Korean rules and international standards
Hashed CEO Simon Kim said stablecoins are becoming an important part of global financial infrastructure. He described Maroo as an effort to pursue a technology-open path that respects Korea’s regulatory environment while aligning with international standards, with the network intended to serve as a base for banks, financial institutions, and fintech companies testing next-generation financial services.