South Korean fintech giant Toss is preparing a major push into Web3 finance, with plans that could eventually reshape how its massive user base interacts with digital assets, payments, tokenized securities, and onchain financial services. According to a report published by regional blockchain outlet Blockmedia on April 6, 2026, Toss, operated by Viva Republica, is developing its own blockchain infrastructure and a native cryptocurrency intended to support its wider financial ecosystem.
The company is reportedly considering a proprietary blockchain mainnet as part of a broader strategy to connect digital asset rails with its existing superapp, which already includes banking, securities, and payments services. With roughly 30 million registered users—close to 60% of South Korea’s population—Toss is entering Web3 from a very different position than a typical crypto-native startup. Rather than building an audience from scratch, it is exploring how blockchain infrastructure can be embedded into an already scaled financial platform.
Choosing Between a Layer 1 and a Layer 2 Path
One of the most important unresolved questions in Toss’s blockchain strategy is whether it will launch a full Layer 1 network built from the ground up or deploy a customized Layer 2 solution on top of an existing chain. The company has not finalized that decision, and the report indicates that internal teams are still evaluating both approaches.
The regulatory environment appears to be a decisive variable. South Korea has not yet enacted its proposed Digital Asset Basic Act, and that uncertainty is affecting how companies structure long-term blockchain initiatives. For Toss, the choice between a sovereign chain and a more modular scaling approach is not only a technical decision but also a compliance-sensitive one. If regulation becomes clearer, the company may be better positioned to commit to the architecture that best fits its goals in payments, tokenization, and digital asset services.
A proprietary Layer 1 would give Toss more direct control over network fees, governance rules, service standards, and application development. It could also reduce reliance on external public blockchains and limit exposure to governance changes made by third parties. On the other hand, a Layer 2 deployed on an established base chain may offer faster implementation and easier access to a proven ecosystem. Experts cited by Blockmedia noted that both options carry strategic advantages, particularly for financial products that demand scale, reliability, and regulatory alignment.
Stablecoin Preparation Is Already Underway
Toss’s Web3 ambitions are not limited to chain infrastructure. The company has also been laying groundwork for stablecoin-related products. A dedicated stablecoin task force led by Chief Business Officer Kyuha Kim is reportedly operating inside the company, and in June 2025 Toss registered trademarks for 24 won-denominated stablecoin names, including TOSSKRW.
That trademark activity suggests the company is thinking beyond experimentation and into productization. A stablecoin strategy tied to the Korean won could eventually support payment settlement, digital transfers, programmable money use cases, and integration with tokenized financial instruments. While no live issuance has been announced, the trademark filings show that Toss has already secured naming positions for a broad stablecoin portfolio.
The stablecoin effort is especially notable because South Korea’s current legal framework still creates complications around issuance. Existing foreign exchange and transaction settlement rules remain relevant constraints, and until the broader digital asset law is passed, any company pursuing won-linked stablecoins must proceed carefully. The report indicates that Toss has structured its blockchain planning and talent recruitment around compliance readiness, highlighting how central regulation is to the company’s execution strategy.
Blockchain Hiring and an Integrated Web3 Wallet
Toss has also been building internal capacity. Since February 2026, the company has been hiring blockchain engineers for roles covering wallet systems, transaction processing, APIs, node operations, cryptographic signing, and financial compliance. The scope of those openings points to a full-stack infrastructure effort rather than a narrow research project.
In parallel, Toss confirmed that it is developing a Web3 wallet that will be integrated directly into its existing app, eliminating the need for a separate download. That matters because distribution is often one of the biggest barriers to consumer crypto adoption. By embedding wallet functionality inside a familiar financial superapp, Toss could significantly reduce friction for mainstream users.
According to the reported direction, the wallet would support storage of virtual assets, transfers, payments, and management of tokenized securities. This combination aligns with Toss’s broader ambition to bridge traditional financial services with digital asset infrastructure. Rather than treating crypto as a standalone product category, the company appears to be positioning blockchain as a foundational layer for broader financial functionality.
A company spokesperson said digital asset-based financial infrastructure is viewed as an important area for the future and that Toss is actively recruiting experienced talent while broadly considering partnerships with multiple firms, prioritizing technology acquisition. That statement reinforces the impression that Toss is in an active buildout phase, even if the final product architecture has not yet been publicly locked in.
“Money 3.0” and the Programmable Finance Thesis
At the Seoul Blockchain Meetup 2026 held in March, Toss corporate development executive Seo Chang-whoon presented what the company described as its “Money 3.0” framework. The concept centers on three themes: programmable money powered by smart contracts, borderless finance that works across currency, geographic, and time constraints, and a stablecoin issuance and distribution strategy connected to real financial services.
That framing is important because it places Toss’s blockchain initiative within a practical financial context rather than a purely speculative one. The company is not just exploring token issuance for branding or treasury purposes. Instead, it is examining how smart contracts and stablecoins might support lending, payments, securities, and more automated financial interactions.
The presentation reportedly included a proof of concept that linked Toss’s SohoScore small-business credit model with smart contracts for automated lending. If expanded beyond concept stage, such a model could represent one of the clearest examples of how a mainstream fintech platform might use blockchain infrastructure to streamline credit flows and create programmable financial products tied to real underwriting inputs.
This helps explain why ownership of the infrastructure matters. A mainnet under Toss’s control could allow the firm to define fee structures, service rules, and technical standards more precisely for regulated financial applications. That level of control may be especially attractive for businesses handling high-volume payments, securities functions, and compliance-heavy processes.
Competition, Partnerships, and IPO Context
Toss is not the only major Korean player pursuing chain infrastructure. The report notes that Dunamu, the operator of Upbit, is developing Kiwachain, an Ethereum Layer 2 network. Meanwhile, Hashed is pushing Maru, a Layer 1 network focused on won-denominated stablecoins. These parallel efforts show that South Korea’s digital asset industry is increasingly interested in domestic infrastructure rather than relying solely on global public chains.
What differentiates Toss is its user base and financial product integration. Because it already operates Toss Bank, Toss Securities, and Toss Payments within a unified app, it has an unusually strong platform from which to introduce onchain finance at consumer scale. If it succeeds, Toss could bring blockchain-native services to a much broader audience than many specialized crypto firms can currently reach.
The company is also reportedly exploring partnerships with KB Financial and Samsung Card as part of its digital asset infrastructure plans, although neither company has publicly commented on those discussions. Even without confirmed partnerships, the mention of major financial institutions suggests Toss is thinking about interoperability with established finance rather than operating in isolation.
Toss’s financial position may also give it room to invest aggressively. The company posted its first profitable 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 targeting a U.S. listing in 2026 at a valuation above $10 billion. Those milestones matter because they indicate Toss is pursuing blockchain expansion while also preparing for broader capital market scrutiny.
No Launch Date Yet, but Strategic Direction Is Clear
For now, Toss has not announced a launch date for its blockchain network, nor has it published final technical specifications. The project remains in a planning and evaluation stage, with major decisions still dependent on regulatory clarity and internal consensus over whether a Layer 1 or Layer 2 architecture makes more sense.
Still, the broader strategic picture is already visible. Toss is preparing for a future in which blockchain infrastructure, stablecoins, embedded wallets, and tokenized financial products become part of mainstream financial services. By combining a large existing distribution network with in-house fintech products and growing blockchain capabilities, the company is positioning itself as a serious contender in South Korea’s next phase of digital finance.
If the regulatory path opens and execution continues, Toss could become one of the most consequential examples of a mainstream fintech company building directly into Web3—not as an add-on, but as core infrastructure for its payments and financial services ecosystem.