South Korean fintech platform Toss is moving deeper into Web3 finance, with plans that could eventually place blockchain infrastructure at the center of its payments, banking, and securities ecosystem. According to a report published by regional blockchain outlet Blockmedia on April 6, 2026, Viva Republica, the operator of Toss, is developing a proprietary blockchain mainnet and a native cryptocurrency intended to support its broader financial platform.
The initiative is notable because Toss is not starting from scratch as a niche crypto startup. The company reportedly serves about 30 million registered users, roughly 60% of South Korea’s population, and already operates Toss Bank, Toss Securities, and Toss Payments within a single super app. If executed, a blockchain-based infrastructure layer could extend that existing consumer finance footprint into on-chain services, giving Toss more direct control over fees, service rules, governance, and application development.
L1 or L2: Toss Has Not Made the Final Call
One of the most important unanswered questions is architectural. Blockmedia reported that Toss is still evaluating two routes: building a full Layer 1 blockchain from the ground up, or launching a customized Layer 2 solution on top of an existing chain. Internal discussions appear to be ongoing, and the final decision has not yet been disclosed.
Regulation is a major factor behind that caution. South Korea has not yet enacted its proposed Digital Asset Basic Act, and that lack of legal clarity is affecting how aggressively large financial technology companies can commit to a specific blockchain structure. In practice, the company’s next move may depend as much on the regulatory timetable as on technical preference.
A proprietary L1 would allow Toss to build its own economic and governance structure from the base layer upward. That could help the company avoid relying on external chains or adapting to governance changes set by third parties. On the other hand, a tailored L2 on top of an established network could let Toss move faster, especially if the goal is to bring tokenized financial products to market without shouldering the full burden of operating a new base-layer ecosystem.
Stablecoin Preparations Are Already Underway
Toss’s stablecoin activity suggests that its Web3 ambitions go beyond infrastructure theory. The company has established a dedicated stablecoin task force led by Chief Business Officer Kyuha Kim. In June 2025, Toss registered trademarks for 24 Korean won-denominated stablecoin names, including TOSSKRW.
Those filings do not necessarily confirm an imminent token launch, but they are a strong sign of preparation. Trademark registration is often one of the earliest public indicators that a company is reserving branding and product options ahead of future rollout. In Toss’s case, the number of filings suggests the company is considering multiple naming strategies or use cases tied to KRW-backed digital assets.
That matters because stablecoins could serve as a natural bridge between Toss’s existing financial services and blockchain-based transactions. A won-denominated stable asset could potentially be integrated into payments, transfers, settlements, and tokenized securities workflows if local law eventually permits such products under clear compliance standards.
Web3 Wallet to Be Built Into the Existing App
Toss has also confirmed that it is developing a Web3 wallet integrated directly into its current application, rather than releasing it as a separate standalone product. That design choice is important. By embedding wallet functionality inside the super app, Toss could dramatically lower onboarding friction for mainstream users who are already familiar with its interface.
The wallet is expected to support virtual asset storage, transfers, payments, and the management of tokenized securities. In effect, Toss appears to be preparing a user-facing access layer that could connect retail financial activity with blockchain-native services without requiring consumers to leave the company’s broader ecosystem.
A company spokesperson said that Toss sees digital asset-based financial infrastructure as an important area for the future. The firm added that it is actively recruiting people with relevant expertise and broadly considering collaborations with various partners, with technology acquisition and capability building taking priority.
Hiring Shows the Project Is Moving Into Execution
The hiring profile gives perhaps the clearest indication that this is more than a conceptual initiative. Since February 2026, Toss has reportedly been recruiting blockchain engineers for roles covering wallet systems, APIs and transaction processing, node operations, cryptographic signing, and financial compliance.
That mix of roles suggests Toss is building toward a full-stack digital asset operation rather than simply experimenting with a token pilot. Wallet architecture, node infrastructure, signature systems, and compliance workflows are all critical components for any company attempting to deliver blockchain-based financial services at scale, especially one operating in a highly regulated consumer market.
The emphasis on compliance-related hiring is especially revealing. South Korea’s legal treatment of stablecoin issuance, settlement, and foreign exchange remains complicated. That means any large-scale rollout would likely require infrastructure designed from day one to satisfy audit, reporting, and risk management requirements.
“Money 3.0” and the Case for Programmable Finance
At the Seoul Blockchain Meetup 2026 in March, Toss corporate development executive Seo Chang-whoon presented the company’s “Money 3.0” framework. The concept centers on three ideas: programmable money enabled by smart contracts, borderless finance that functions across limits of currency, geography, and time, and a stablecoin issuance-and-distribution strategy tied to real financial services.
That framework indicates Toss is not just chasing crypto exposure for branding purposes. Instead, the company appears to be positioning blockchain as a programmable financial rail that could support lending, settlement, and asset issuance in ways conventional app-based finance cannot easily replicate.
The presentation included a proof of concept linking Toss’s SohoScore small business credit model with smart contracts for automated lending. If that concept evolves into a deployable product, Toss could use blockchain infrastructure to automate parts of credit delivery and servicing. Such a model would fit neatly with a proprietary chain strategy, where the company would control technical standards, service rules, and fee design more directly.
Competition Is Building Across South Korea
Toss is not alone in pursuing proprietary blockchain infrastructure in South Korea. The report noted that Dunamu, the operator of Upbit, is developing Kiwachain, an Ethereum-based Layer 2 network. Meanwhile, Hashed is pushing Maru, a Layer 1 blockchain focused on KRW stablecoin use cases.
What differentiates Toss is its scale in retail financial services. Unlike firms that approach blockchain from the exchange or venture investment side, Toss already has a broad consumer-facing finance platform with banking, brokerage, and payments embedded in one environment. That gives the company a potentially powerful distribution advantage if and when regulation permits deeper digital asset integration.
In other words, the key strategic question is not only whether Toss can build the chain, but whether it can use that infrastructure to connect blockchain products to a mass-market financial user base more effectively than its domestic competitors.
Regulatory Clarity Remains the Main Constraint
Despite the scale of its preparations, Toss has not announced a launch date or released detailed technical specifications for the proposed mainnet. For now, the project remains in a planning and decision phase. The biggest bottleneck is still legal certainty.
South Korea’s current rules around settlement and foreign exchange continue to complicate stablecoin issuance, and the absence of finalized digital asset legislation leaves major financial players in a holding pattern. That appears to be why Toss is structuring its blockchain planning around regulatory readiness rather than rushing into a public launch.
The report also said the company is exploring partnerships with KB Financial and Samsung Card as part of its digital asset infrastructure plans, though neither company has publicly commented on those talks. If such partnerships materialize, they could give Toss additional institutional support in payments, issuance, or regulated financial distribution.
Financial Strength Gives Toss Room to Invest
Toss’s blockchain push is backed by a stronger business foundation than in previous years. The company posted its first profitable full year in 2024, with consolidated revenue of 1.956 trillion won, or about $1.4 billion, representing 43% year-over-year growth. It is also reportedly targeting a U.S. listing in 2026 at a valuation above $10 billion.
That financial profile matters because building blockchain infrastructure is capital-intensive, operationally demanding, and often slower than expected in regulated markets. A profitable company with an established user base is in a better position to sustain long-term investment in talent, legal preparation, infrastructure, and partnerships.
For now, Toss’s Web3 strategy should be viewed as a serious and structured expansion plan rather than a finalized product launch. The company has laid important groundwork through trademark filings, hiring, wallet development, and internal strategic framing. But its next decisive step—whether that means committing to an L1, selecting an L2 path, or moving toward stablecoin issuance—will likely depend on when South Korea provides the regulatory clarity needed for large-scale digital asset finance.