Kaia and LINE Build Stablecoin Bridge Across Asia's Fragmented Markets

Kaia and LINE NEXT, the web3 venture arm of LINE, have announced the development of "Project Unify," a stablecoin-powered super-app designed to streamline cross-border payments and financial services across Asia. The platform, set to launch in beta later this year, will integrate stablecoin-based services such as payments, remittances, yield generation, and access to over 100 decentralized applications (dApps) within LINE Messenger, which boasts nearly 200 million monthly users in Japan, China Taiwan, and Thailand title1^[1]. The initiative aims to address the fragmented nature of Asia’s payment systems by consolidating regional stablecoins—pegged to currencies like the Japanese yen, Korean won, Thai baht, and U.S. dollar—into a single, compliant infrastructure title2^[2].

Project Unify is positioned as a "universally compliant" solution, leveraging Kaia’s blockchain, a merger of Kakao’s Klaytn and LINE’s Finschia networks. The app will initially operate as a standalone service and within LINE Messenger, offering real-time stablecoin incentives, peer-to-peer transfers, and on/off-ramps for fiat conversions title3^[3]. Kaia DLT Foundation Chairman Dr. Sangmin Seo emphasized the project’s goal to unify Asia’s fragmented payment systems through a stablecoin orchestration layer, enhancing cross-border financial inclusion title2^[2]. The platform also plans to provide a software development kit (SDK) for stablecoin issuers and developers, enabling seamless integration into local markets and apps title3^[3].

The rollout of Project Unify faces regulatory hurdles in South Korea, where lawmakers are still debating rules for stablecoin licensing, reserve requirements, and interest-bearing deposits. Despite this, Kaia and LINE NEXT have accelerated preparatory efforts, including Kakao’s filing of four KRW-related trademarks for a Korean won stablecoin title1^[1]. The project builds on the success of LINE’s Mini Dapps, which attracted 130 million new users in 2025, expanding into a full-scale super-app accessible via web, mobile, and LINE Messenger title2^[2]. Tether’s recent deployment of USD₮ on Kaia further bolsters the platform’s utility, enabling stablecoin transactions for 196 million LINE users title4^[4].

South Korea’s evolving regulatory landscape adds complexity to the project. While the National Assembly has proposed three Digital Asset bills to legalize KRW stablecoins, the Bank of Korea remains cautious, citing risks of capital flight and currency instability title5^[5]. In contrast, Japan’s Financial Services Agency supports private stablecoins for B2B and B2C transactions, viewing them as complementary to CBDCs title5^[5]. Kaia’s strategic focus on local fiat-backed stablecoins aligns with regional trends, aiming to capture a market where less than 27% of adults in developing Asia have access to formal financial accounts title6^[6].

The partnership with Tether underscores the project’s ambition to bridge traditional finance and decentralized systems. USD₮, the largest stablecoin by market capitalization ($149.4 billion), will power cross-border remittances, DeFi activities, and in-app payments for LINE users title4^[4]. LINE NEXT CEO Youngsu Ko highlighted the initiative’s potential to create a "dollar-based gateway" for Web3 adoption in Asia, emphasizing practicality for everyday users title4^[4]. Meanwhile, Kaia’s technical capabilities—low-latency transactions and immediate finality—position it as a robust infrastructure for stablecoin activity title4^[4].

Project Unify’s success hinges on regulatory clarity and regional adoption. With South Korea’s Digital Asset Basic Act expected in Q4 2025, the project could benefit from a framework that lowers capital requirements for stablecoin issuers and encourages private sector innovation . As Kaia expands into markets like Indonesia and the Philippines, partnerships with local exchanges and financial institutions will be critical to scaling user adoption beyond LINE’s core markets title6^[6]. The project’s emphasis on stablecoins—both dollar-pegged and region-specific—reflects a broader trend in Asia to harness blockchain for financial inclusion and cross-border efficiency.