Crypto payment infrastructure company Rain announced on September 15, 2026 that it had added support for KRW1, a Korean won-pegged stablecoin issued by South Korean custodian BDACS on Avalanche, expanding the currencies available for stablecoin-powered payment experiences on its platform.
According to Rain’s announcement, the integration makes KRW1 spendable anywhere Visa is accepted, letting businesses on Rain’s infrastructure support Korean won transactions alongside existing stablecoin products.
Rain shared the announcement directly through its official X account, framing the update as bringing the Korean won onchain for the first time:
The expansion follows Rain’s broader partnership with Visa to develop on-chain credit card infrastructure connecting stablecoin balances with traditional payment networks. Rain did not disclose which businesses will integrate the feature first or when consumer-facing products will become available.
What Rain’s KRW1 Integration Adds
Rain provides infrastructure for companies building stablecoin-powered payment products, including card programs connected to traditional networks.
Adding KRW1 lets businesses on Rain’s infrastructure create payment experiences connecting a won-pegged digital asset with local currency spending, complementing options already covered in a roundup of the best crypto card options in 2026.
| Rain Payment Infrastructure | Role |
| KRW1 stablecoin | Won-pegged digital asset issued by BDACS on Avalanche |
| Korean won support | Adds compatibility with a local currency system |
| Visa partnership | Connects blockchain payment infrastructure with global card networks |
| Businesses using Rain | Can build crypto-enabled payment products |
Table 1. Components of Rain’s stablecoin payment infrastructure.
The update is significant because local currency support remains one of the key challenges for stablecoin adoption. Users often need simple ways to move between digital assets and familiar currencies before blockchain-based payments can become practical.
Why South Korea Is a Meaningful Market for This
South Korea is one of Asia’s most active digital asset markets, with local exchanges historically relying heavily on Korean won trading pairs, a dynamic also shaping how crypto remittance options into Asia have developed.
| South Korea Crypto Market Context | Data Point |
| Registered crypto exchange accounts | More than 16 million reported accounts |
| Major domestic exchanges | Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit, Gopax |
| Primary local trading currency | Korean won (KRW) |
| Market role | One of Asia’s largest crypto markets |
Table 2. South Korea’s crypto market context.
Unlike markets where dollar-linked stablecoins dominate, South Korean users have traditionally interacted with crypto through KRW-based exchanges.
Supporting a won-pegged asset directly can reduce friction for companies building payment products for Korean users, though a won-denominated stablecoin sector remains legally uncertain, with the Bank of Korea’s own CBDC pilot advancing faster than private stablecoin legislation.
How Rain and Visa’s On-Chain Card Infrastructure Works
The KRW1 integration comes as Rain continues developing stablecoin-powered payment infrastructure with Visa, aiming to accelerate on-chain credit cards that let stablecoins be used through existing payment networks while blockchain assets operate behind the scenes, as detailed in Rain’s partnership announcement with Visa.
| Traditional Card Payments | Stablecoin Payment Infrastructure |
| Users spend fiat balances | Users can spend stablecoin-backed balances |
| Banks provide payment liquidity | Blockchain assets can provide settlement liquidity |
| Merchants use existing card networks | Visa infrastructure handles merchant acceptance |
Table 3. How stablecoin-powered cards connect blockchain assets with traditional payments.
The goal is not for merchants to directly accept stablecoins. Instead, stablecoin balances are converted or settled through existing payment rails.
How This Fits a Broader Shift Beyond Trading
Rain’s expansion reflects a broader shift in how companies position stablecoins, moving from crypto trading and exchange settlement toward payments, remittances, and financial infrastructure.
Adoption still depends on regulatory treatment, available financial partners, transaction costs, and user demand, and Rain has not disclosed whether Korean users will immediately access consumer products using the integration.
What Comes Next for the KRW1 Rollout
The next step will be seeing how Rain’s KRW1 integration is incorporated into real-world payment products. Important details remain unclear, including launch markets, fees, compliance requirements, and the businesses that will use the infrastructure.
If adopted by payment providers and businesses, the integration could help expand the connection between stablecoins and traditional financial systems in South Korea.
What this means for you: Rain’s Korean won support shows how stablecoin infrastructure companies are moving beyond crypto trading toward everyday payment applications. The practical impact will depend on which businesses integrate the service, how Korean regulations develop, and whether users gain easier access to stablecoin-powered payments.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Stablecoin payment systems involve regulatory, custody, technology, and counterparty risks. Availability and features may vary by market.
