KB Kookmin readies Kinexys blockchain for instant cross-border USD corporate trade payments

KB Kookmin Bank, South Korea’s largest lender, is preparing to launch a Kinexys-powered cross-border corporate payment service next month, positioning itself as the first South Korean bank to use J.P. Morgan’s blockchain network for trade settlements. The service is described as enabling instant-dollar payments for corporate users ^{[1] [2] [3]}.

According to reports, the rollout will initially support U.S. dollar transfers to businesses across 10 international markets, routed through KB Kookmin’s domestic operations and its Singapore branches. The network is also said to connect to the SWIFT system for near real-time settlement, aligning with the bank’s broader push to incorporate blockchain into payments infrastructure ^{[4] [3]}.

The move marks a new instance of traditional banking using J.P. Morgan’s Kinexys blockchain network for cross-border corporate settlement, with an August 2026 launch and early support for U.S. dollar transfers across 10 markets ^{[1] [3]}.