Tether applies for trademark registration in South Korea, possibly preparing to enter the South Korean market

According to reports from South Korean media, Tether, the world's largest stablecoin issuer, recently applied for seven trademark registrations in South Korea, including the Tether logo and the gold-backed stablecoin Tether Gold (XAUT). This is Tether's first application for company name and logo trademarks in South Korea, having previously only applied for trademarks for stablecoin product names.

Industry insiders believe this move may be Tether's preparation to enter the South Korean market. The South Korean "Basic Act on Digital Assets" (Phase Two of the Virtual Assets Act) is discussing a proposal that requires overseas stablecoin issuers to establish subsidiaries in South Korea to conduct circulation business. Tether's trademark application may be a proactive strategy ahead of its competitor Circle. Circle's founder and CEO Jeremy Allaire visited South Korea in April to discuss potential collaborations with local financial holding companies and virtual asset exchanges, stating that South Korea is "the most vibrant virtual asset market in the world and a candidate for the most mature stablecoin market in the future."