Global payments behemoth Visa and South Korean digital asset operator Dunamu have formally announced a strategic partnership to develop advanced financial and payment services. The collaboration aims to integrate stablecoin-based payments, streamline global remittances, and pioneer AI-powered “Agentic Commerce.” This significant move was publicly confirmed by Dunamu on August 28, 2026.
The detailed roadmap for this ambitious venture was first unveiled at Visa’s Global Market Support Center in Mission Rock, San Francisco, on August 26, 2026. Dunamu Chief Executive Officer Oh Kyung-seok and Visa Global President Oliver Jenkyn were both present at the unveiling, underscoring the importance of the alliance.
Building new infrastructure for stablecoin payments
This partnership will fuse Dunamu’s established digital asset technology with Visa’s vast global payment network. Their shared goal is to expand the secure and reliable application of digital assets and next-generation payment technologies across South Korea and key international markets.
The collaboration is specifically designed to bridge the gap between digital assets and traditional finance, creating novel global financial experiences for users. Key initiatives include exploring stablecoin-linked payment services and examining business models that leverage the open-standard Open USD (OUSD).
Furthermore, the companies plan to jointly develop innovative services combining artificial intelligence with stablecoin payment and settlement infrastructure. This focus on AI agents in commerce represents a forward-thinking approach to automated transactions.
Dunamu CEO Oh Kyung-seok articulated the strategic vision, stating, “The proliferation of AI, stablecoins, and tokenization is a key trend that will transform how finance and commerce operate.” He added that through this collaboration with Visa, they aim to “connect digital assets with traditional finance and create new global financial experiences that users can feel.”
Visa’s evolving digital asset strategy
Visa has been a consistent, albeit cautious, player in the digital currency space for years, actively building its crypto payments team since 2018. The company has progressively integrated fiat-pegged tokens into its payment infrastructure, recognizing their potential.
Notably, Visa announced in March 2021 that it would accept the stablecoin USDC to settle transactions on its network. This commitment deepened in July 2026 with the launch of the Visa Stablecoin Platform (VSP).
The VSP is an enterprise solution providing financial institutions, fintechs, and crypto-native companies with comprehensive stablecoin capabilities. It offers on-chain wallet infrastructure and connectivity for minting and burning stablecoins, with initial support for OUSD.
The payments giant has significantly scaled its stablecoin operations. As of March 2026, Visa’s annualized stablecoin settlement activity had reached approximately $7 billion. It currently supports over 130 stablecoin-linked card programs across about 40 countries, demonstrating a robust commitment to the sector.
This strategic move aligns with Visa CEO Ryan McInerney’s stated focus from July 2025 on emerging markets. He views stablecoins as a crucial tool to accelerate growth and facilitate faster cross-border transactions in regions where digitizing payments has historically been challenging.
Dunamu’s market position and ambition
Dunamu, founded in 2012 and headquartered in Seoul, is best known as the operator of Upbit, South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. Upbit regularly ranks among the top five global exchanges for spot trading volume, handling billions in daily trades and serving over 8 million verified users.
The exchange maintains a dominant position within the South Korean market, especially among corporate and foreign investors. Recent data from August 2026 shows Upbit accounting for 62.4% of corporate crypto assets across the five major exchanges in the country, solidifying its influence.
Dunamu’s focus extends beyond trading platforms to include blockchain infrastructure and investment technology. Its subsidiaries, like blockchain unit Lambda256, further underline its comprehensive approach to the digital asset ecosystem.
Upbit operates as a fully licensed Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in South Korea, adhering strictly to Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations. In a recent development, Dunamu received approval in August 2026 to use South Korea’s government data system for KYC verification on Upbit.
This allows the exchange to directly query administrative records, significantly reducing customer paperwork and streamlining the onboarding process. Despite its strong market presence, Dunamu has reported declines in revenue and operating profit for 2025 and Q1/Q2 2026, driven by decreased trading activity. These financial shifts may underscore the company’s strategic imperative to explore new growth avenues like this Visa partnership.
The path ahead for integrating digital assets
While the partnership outlines an ambitious vision, the rollout will be phased and meticulously aligned with applicable laws and regulatory requirements. Both companies emphasize stability, transparency, interoperability, and robust regulatory compliance as core principles for their joint initiatives.
Specific launch timelines, target regions for particular services, and which precise stablecoins will be utilized (beyond OUSD being under review) have not yet been disclosed. Dunamu noted that OUSD is one of several stablecoin projects under consideration, without prioritizing any specific one for the partnership.
Furthermore, details regarding specific blockchains, custody providers, settlement processes, or initial markets for these new services remain exploratory. The agreement represents a strategic intent rather than an immediate product launch or a commitment to offer stablecoin payments directly through Upbit at this stage.
This move by two industry heavyweights—one in traditional finance, the other in digital assets—signals a deepening convergence between the two worlds. It highlights a growing conviction that stablecoins and AI will play pivotal roles in the future of crypto card spending and global payments.
The collaboration also validates the growing importance of Open USD (OUSD), which counts over 140 companies, including Mastercard, Stripe, Coinbase, and BlackRock, among its participants. This broad industry buy-in suggests a concerted effort to establish a standardized approach to stablecoin infrastructure.
Such partnerships are crucial for mainstream adoption, moving digital assets beyond speculative trading into everyday utility. The integration of robust AI capabilities alongside stablecoin market capitalisation aims to create a more efficient and user-friendly experience for global commerce.