Tether Files Seven Korean Trademarks For Logo and Tether Gold

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Tether Files Seven Korean Trademarks For Logo and Tether <a href="https://bbg-news.com/gold">Gold</a>

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Tether has filed seven trademark applications in South Korea — including its corporate brand name, logo, and gold-backed stablecoin Tether Gold (XAUT).
Industry analysts describe this as a preemptive move to establish a business foothold before the Digital Asset Basic Act requires overseas stablecoin issuers to set up local branches.
The move comes as Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire recently visited Korea to meet with financial holding companies and exchanges.

Tether, the company behind the most popular stablecoin, has applied for trademarks in South Korea for its name, logo, and its gold-backed token, Tether Gold. Experts believe this suggests Tether is planning to officially operate in South Korea, which is a major cryptocurrency market.

According to a report in Seoul Economic Daily on Monday, Tether has taken a significant step forward in South Korea by trademarking not just its stablecoin names, but also its overall brand and logo. This move suggests Tether is preparing to establish a formal Korean subsidiary, which will likely be required once South Korea’s new Digital Asset Basic Act goes into effect.

Why Corporate Trademarks Signal a Subsidiary

It’s important to differentiate between trademarks for specific products and trademarks for the company itself. Registering a trademark for a stablecoin product safeguards that brand in the marketplace. Registering the company’s name and logo, however, demonstrates a commitment to operating as a legitimate business, which includes activities like hiring employees, signing contracts, and potentially becoming a legally regulated organization.

South Korea is preparing a new law about digital assets, and it’s likely to require stablecoin companies based outside the country to open offices in South Korea if they want to serve Korean customers. Tether, the company behind one popular stablecoin, has already taken steps to register its trademark in South Korea, suggesting it’s getting ready to comply with the new law as soon as it’s passed, rather than waiting until the last minute.

According to a source in the cryptocurrency industry who spoke with Seoul Economic Daily, Tether and Circle – the two biggest stablecoin companies worldwide – are already trying to establish themselves in South Korea, even though the country hasn’t finalized its regulations for these types of digital currencies.

Circle’s Allaire Already on the Ground

Tether is expanding its trademark efforts shortly after Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire traveled to South Korea. During his visit, he met with various financial institutions, cryptocurrency platforms, and technology companies to explore possible partnerships.

Circle has been meeting with leading Korean cryptocurrency exchanges like Upbit, Bithumb, and Coinone to make it easier to buy, sell, and use USDC. They’re collaborating with Upbit’s parent company, Dunamu, on projects to ensure everything follows regulations, is clear for users, and provides helpful education. With Bithumb, they’re planning to work together on new technology that connects different blockchains and utilizes stablecoins.

Circle has announced it won’t be launching its own stablecoin pegged to the Korean won. Instead, the company suggests it might work with banks in the future by providing the technology for a stablecoin project led by a banking group.

Tether and Circle are both making a strong push into the Korean market. Tether is focusing on legal groundwork, while Circle is building business relationships, indicating that both companies see Korea as a key area where they don’t want to lose ground to their competitor.

Why Korea Matters: 80% Tether Dominance Under Threat

A lot is riding on upcoming regulations in South Korea. Right now, Tether handles over 80% of all stablecoin transactions there, while Circle only manages about 10%. However, Tether’s large share has grown without much regulatory oversight. When the new Digital Asset Basic Act is enforced – requiring local offices, compliance systems, and protections for users – the market could change significantly, potentially altering Tether’s leading position.

South Korea is a major player in the cryptocurrency world, ranking as the third-largest market based on trading activity. The popular exchange Upbit often sees more daily trades than even Coinbase. What makes the Korean market special – lots of individual investors, trading directly with the Korean won, and tough rules for exchanges – means both stablecoin companies are eager to maintain their presence there.

Regulations surrounding cryptocurrencies are changing quickly. Recently, South Korea’s police announced they’re focusing on illegal money laundering operations – specifically, unregistered exchanges that convert criminal money into the cryptocurrency USDT. This creates a challenging situation for Tether, as the company tries to become a legitimate player in the market while police crack down on the misuse of its cryptocurrency.

Tether’s Global Expansion Push

Tether’s recent trademark applications in Korea are part of a larger plan to grow internationally, a strategy that’s picked up speed throughout 2026. The company is actively moving beyond its main business of the USDT stablecoin, expanding into new areas and markets.

The company is aiming to raise between $15 and $20 billion, potentially valuing it at $500 billion – making it one of the most valuable private companies globally. USDT, a popular cryptocurrency, now has around $186 billion in circulation and controls roughly 58% of the market. Tether, the company behind USDT, reported over $10 billion in profit for 2025 and has invested $122 billion in U.S. Treasury holdings.

The fact that Tether Gold (XAUT) was trademarked in Korea is also interesting. XAUT is a digital form of gold, with each token representing physical gold stored securely in Switzerland. This trademark suggests Tether may be expanding beyond just stablecoins tied to the US dollar and could become a larger provider of digital asset services.

The GENIUS Act Factor

Tether and Circle, like other stablecoin companies, are now following new rules established by the U.S. GENIUS Act, which became law in July 2025. This is the first complete set of federal regulations for stablecoins. The GENIUS Act requires any foreign stablecoin company wanting to operate in the U.S. to meet certain standards for reserves, audits, and anti-money laundering practices. Otherwise, their tokens could be banned from trading on U.S. markets.

South Korea’s new Digital Asset Basic Act will likely create rules for the market similar to those already in place elsewhere. It’s important to act quickly – companies issuing stablecoins that set up compliant operations in Korea early on will be better positioned than those who wait for the final rules and then try to catch up.

Tether’s recent trademark filings in Korea suggest they believe having a strong legal and physical presence will be crucial when regulations are established. Meanwhile, Circle’s focus on building partnerships and demonstrating regulatory compliance indicates they see those as key to success. Ultimately, for Korean crypto users and exchanges, the competition between Tether and Circle will decide which stablecoin system powers the future growth of the market.

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2026-05-19 16:38