TechFlow News, May 19: According to South Korean media reports, Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, recently filed seven trademark applications in South Korea—including for the “Tether” logo and its gold-backed stablecoin, Tether Gold (XAUT). This marks Tether’s first application in South Korea for its corporate name and logo trademarks; previously, it had only applied for trademarks covering stablecoin product names.
Industry insiders believe this move may signal Tether’s preparation to enter the South Korean market. South Korea’s proposed Digital Asset Basic Act (Phase II Virtual Asset Act) is currently under discussion and includes provisions requiring overseas stablecoin issuers to establish local subsidiaries in South Korea before conducting circulation-related business. Tether’s trademark filing may thus represent a strategic move to gain an early advantage over rival Circle.
Jeremy Allaire, founder and CEO of Circle, visited South Korea in April to discuss potential collaboration with local financial holding companies and virtual asset exchanges. He described South Korea as “the world’s most dynamic virtual asset market—and a leading candidate for the most mature stablecoin market of the future.”
