Kaia & LINE Launch Stablecoin Super-App for 200M Users

Project Unify represents a strategic initiative to address Asia’s notoriously fragmented payment systems, where national networks operate in isolation and cross-border transfers are slowed by intermediaries, high fees, and delays that can extend for days. By integrating directly into LINE Messenger—which boasts nearly 200 million monthly users across Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand—the platform aims to create a seamless financial ecosystem accessible through a familiar chat interface. The super-app will combine payments, remittances, stablecoin yield services, and on- and off-ramps for converting between digital tokens and local currencies, effectively consolidating scattered regional markets into a single, unified platform.

Dr. Sangmin Seo, chairman of the Kaia DLT Foundation, described Project Unify as a “universally compliant” stablecoin issuance and on-chain liquidity management solution designed to address an “often overlooked” aspect of stablecoin infrastructure. The platform is being positioned to handle issuance, payments, and yield opportunities across multiple Asian currencies, including the Japanese yen, Korean won, Thai baht, Indonesian rupiah, Philippine peso, Malaysian ringgit, Singapore dollar, and U.S. dollar. This multi-currency approach aims to provide a comprehensive solution for a diverse range of users across the region.

The ambitious rollout faces significant regulatory uncertainty, particularly in South Korea where lawmakers are still debating crucial aspects of stablecoin legislation. Key issues under discussion include licensing requirements, reserve management protocols, whether interest can be paid on stablecoin deposits, and the precise role of banks in the ecosystem. This regulatory ambiguity has already slowed progress, as evidenced by Kakao’s August filing of four KRW-related trademarks—KRWGlobal, KRWGL, KRWKaia, and KaKRW—for a planned Korean won stablecoin on the Kaia blockchain.

However, the regulatory landscape is evolving rapidly. South Korea is moving toward formal stablecoin regulation with a bill expected in October that will provide comprehensive rules for issuance, reserve (collateral) management, and internal controls for won-pegged stablecoins. This legislative development could provide the clarity needed for Project Unify to achieve its full potential, though the timing and specifics remain uncertain. The success of the initiative may depend heavily on how well it can navigate these regulatory frameworks across multiple jurisdictions.

Beyond traditional payments and remittances, Project Unify aims to democratize access to decentralized finance (DeFi) for mainstream users. The platform will provide access to more than 100 decentralized applications and enable users to “transfer assets via a simple text message, stake assets for interest, and also participate in DeFi, such as lending and borrowing,” according to Dr. Seo. This approach represents a significant step toward simplifying and abstracting complex DeFi concepts for mass adoption.

The initiative emerges from the merger of Kakao’s Klaytn and LINE’s Finschia networks, creating Kaia as a public blockchain with substantial institutional backing. By leveraging LINE Messenger’s massive user base and integrating multiple regional stablecoins, Project Unify could potentially transform how millions of users interact with digital assets and cross-border payments. The beta launch later this year will serve as a critical test of whether this ambitious vision can overcome both technical challenges and regulatory hurdles to deliver on its promise of creating a truly universal stablecoin and Web3 superapp for the Asian market.