KB Kookmin Card and SBI Holdings signed a four-party memorandum of understanding announced on October 13 to test artificial intelligence agent identity verification and explore stablecoin payments for Japanese tourists visiting South Korea. The agreement includes South Korean cybersecurity firm Everspin and the companies' joint venture SBI Everspin. Under the partnership, the companies will examine payment services connecting Japanese customers with South Korean merchants, proposing a system where Japanese travelers could use digital assets including stablecoins when purchasing goods or services during visits. The initiative forms part of broader cross-border digital payment infrastructure development between Japan and South Korea, with SBI Group simultaneously pursuing a separate QR code-based stablecoin payment project expected to complete testing by the end of December 2026.
KYA Trust Gateway Verifies AI Agent Identity and Permissions
At the center of the partnership is KYA Trust Gateway, a security platform designed to establish the identity and permissions of AI agents. SBI Everspin conceived the technology and is developing the system with Everspin. Unlike traditional user authentication, the proposed process checks whether an AI agent has received permission from a specific person to perform designated tasks.
The proposed system would verify user consent and check whether an automated agent has permission to complete transactions within predetermined spending limits. KB Kookmin Card will evaluate whether its KB Pay platform can support AI agents making payments on behalf of customers. The companies plan to study how payments could move through existing financial systems, covering settlements, cancellations and refunds.
Everspin reported approximately 25 billion cumulative cybersecurity threat detections across more than 150 financial institutions in South Korea and overseas, though the figures represent the company's broader operating statistics rather than results from the new KYA Trust Gateway platform. No commercial launch date or supported stablecoin has been announced.
KB Kookmin Card Tests Cross-Border Digital Payment Services
A KB Kookmin Card representative stated that the partnership would test the foundation needed for AI agents to operate securely across multiple services. The representative said the businesses would work together to provide customers in South Korea and Japan with secure cross-border digital payment experiences, edaily.co.kr reported.
SBI Holdings said it would combine its financial services experience with the participating companies' AI and security technologies. The Japanese financial group expects the tests to provide information about possible commercial services, including stablecoin payments.
SBI DigiTrust Completes QR-Based Stablecoin Payment Tests by December 2026
On October 1, SBI DigiTrust announced a joint verification project with NICE Information & Telecommunication and blockchain infrastructure firm DSRV. That project tests QR code-based stablecoin payments for Japanese tourists at South Korean merchants. NICE operates payment infrastructure serving approximately 1.2 million merchants in South Korea.
SBI DigiTrust expects to complete its QR-based stablecoin payment tests with NICE and DSRV by the end of December 2026. The KB Kookmin Card partnership has not disclosed a testing completion date or budget. Initial trials will focus on how AI agents operating from Japan authenticate themselves when accessing South Korean financial services, before subsequent phases examine delegated transaction authority and commercial readiness.
FAQ
What did KB Kookmin Card and SBI Holdings announce on October 13?
KB Kookmin Card and SBI Holdings announced on October 13 a four-party memorandum of understanding with Everspin and SBI Everspin to test artificial intelligence agent identity verification and explore stablecoin payments for Japanese tourists visiting South Korea.
What is KYA Trust Gateway?
KYA Trust Gateway is a security platform designed to establish the identity and permissions of AI agents. SBI Everspin conceived the technology and is developing the system with Everspin to check whether an AI agent has received permission from a specific person to perform designated tasks.
When will SBI DigiTrust complete its QR-based stablecoin payment tests?
SBI DigiTrust expects to complete its QR-based stablecoin payment tests with NICE Information & Telecommunication and DSRV by the end of December 2026.
