Tether filed seven trademark applications in South Korea on May 19, covering its company name, logo, and Tether Gold (XAUT), according to records verified by the Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS) and reported by Seoul Economic Daily. The move positions the stablecoin issuer for what could be a tightly regulated market — South Korea is drafting new rules that may force foreign stablecoin firms to set up local branches before operating.
The trademark filings
The applications, lodged just two days ago, aim to secure the Tether brand and its gold-backed token in one of Asia's most active crypto markets. KIPRIS records show the filings. It's a direct response to competitor Circle, which filed 11 trademark applications in South Korea last year. That earlier push helped USDC gain a 10% increase in market share within the country, according to local reports.
South Korea's regulatory push
The country is working on the second phase of its Digital Asset Basic Act. Under the proposed framework, foreign stablecoin issuers might need to establish local branches before they can legally operate. That's a significant hurdle — and it means trademark filings alone won't guarantee market access. The exact timeline for the new rules isn't public yet, but the regulatory direction is clear.
Circle's head start
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire met with South Korean banks and crypto exchanges earlier this year to explore partnerships. Those meetings gave Circle a stronger local foothold than Tether currently has. Tether's trademark push suggests it's trying to catch up, but relationship-building takes time. The question is whether Tether can replicate Circle's groundwork before the regulations lock in.
Why South Korea matters
South Korea has one of the world's most active retail crypto trading populations. For stablecoin issuers, that means real volume. Tether is positioning its stablecoins for cross-border payments, targeting South Korea's export economy with faster, cheaper alternatives to systems like SWIFT. If the regulatory door swings open, the race to be the dominant stablecoin in Seoul will be fierce.
Both issuers are now waiting on the final text of the Digital Asset Basic Act's second phase. The trademark filings are a signal — Tether isn't sitting still. But with Circle already in the room, Tether has ground to make up.
