Shinhan Asset Management signs MOU with global RWA platform Plume for tokenized securities business cooperation. Aug 14, 2026, 09:00 ET SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Shinhan Asset Management today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Plume, the Open Finance platform for institutional assets, to develop a demonstration of a KRW-denominated tokenized fund. This pilot proof of concept (POC) will show how to create offshore demand for the KRW by supplying high-quality KRW-denominated assets to a dollar-heavy on-chain funding market. It marks the first attempt to apply these institutional-grade infrastructure standards to Korean Won assets. To test the overseas potential of Won-denominated financial investment products, Shinhan Asset Management will provide a fund related to Won ultra-short-term bonds as an underlying asset. Plume will conduct the POC to test out potential technical issues that may arise when incorporating tokenization functions offshore. Together, the two will showcase the viability of regulatory alignment across the entire process. From whitelist-based transfer controls, onchain mechanisms, and KYC/AML systems necessary for the global market. "While dollar-based assets have traditionally served as onchain payment and liquidity infrastructure, it is now time to bring overseas funds into the domestic market through Korean Won-based stablecoins or tokenized securities. To achieve this, it is necessary to conduct preliminary experiments regarding whitelisting methods, the functionality of KYC and AML, and the feasibility of regulatory compliance. This will serve as a crucial intellectual asset to establish Shinhan Asset Management as a leader in global tokenized financial investment products," said Lee Seok-won, CEO of Shinhan Asset Management. "This POC is limited to a proof of concept and is not fundamentally based on issuance or distribution. In particular, for this POC, we are designing a completely isolated structure that fundamentally blocks acquisition by domestic residents both contractually and technically. We will continue to communicate closely with regulatory authorities and proceed responsibly," he added. Plume is well suited to provide the infrastructure and regulatory structure for this POC. It holds a U.S. SEC-registered Transfer Agent license. In addition, it recently joined the "Digital Assets Solutions Industry Working Group," operated by the U.S. Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC) to establish industry standards for tokenization services. Meanwhile, this POC will be conducted in a 3rd jurisdiction. Shinhan Asset Management plans to establish itself as a global tokenization financial institution through this pilot project. "While RWA tokenization has grown around dollar-denominated assets, there is now a significant demand for global market integration." He added, "Cooperation with Shinhan Asset Management, a leading asset management firm in Korea, marks the first step in connecting compliant, high-quality KRW-denominated assets to investors worldwide," said Chris Yin, CEO and co-founder of Plume. This MOU is an agreement confirming mutual intent for cooperation; it is limited to a Proof of Concept (POC) and will currently be conducted only in offshore markets. Going forward, domestic and international issuance and distribution will be pursued within the scope of compliance with relevant laws and regulatory verification procedures, and will be limited to technical verification and infrastructure preparation activities prior to the implementation of the domestic token securities system. About Plume Plume is the Institutional Open Finance platform, serving more than half of all real-world asset holders. It brings institutional assets out of closed financial systems into open, programmable, globally accessible markets. Plume Nest Vaults, Plume's flagship asset management protocol, opens institutional assets from Apollo, WisdomTree, Hamilton Lane, and other leading firms to global investors through compliant, non-custodial vaults. Backed by Apollo Global Management, Galaxy Digital, and Brevan Howard. It holds a SEC transfer-agent registration via Kimber Transfer Agency LLC. About Shinhan Asset Management Shinhan Asset Management is a leading Korean institutional asset manager, overseeing approximately KRW 133.6 trillion (around USD 100 billion) across public and private markets. As the dedicated asset management arm of Shinhan Financial Group - one of Korea's largest financial holding companies - it manages capital for institutions and individuals across fixed income, equities, alternatives, real estate, and money market strategies. Its SOL ETF franchise and ESG-driven investment platform bring Korean and global market access to a broad base of investors through transparent, disciplined vehicles. Backed by the scale and stability of Shinhan Financial Group, alongside Shinhan Bank, Shinhan Card, and Shinhan Securities. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Seoul, Shinhan Asset Management is a licensed investment manager regulated by Korea's Financial Services Commission. SOURCE Plume Network

Shinhan and Plume partner to test Korean won tokenized fund. Shinhan and Plume will test a won-denominated bond fund on-chain through an offshore proof of concept. By Yasmin Werner August 14, 2026 3 Mins Read Tldr. * Shinhan and Plume will test a Korean won tokenized fund in an offshore pilot. * The PoC will use Shinhan's ultra-short-term won bond fund as the base asset. * BlackRock's BUIDL model will guide the tokenized fund issuance and distribution. * The pilot will test KYC, AML, whitelists, and on-chain compliance requirements. * Shinhan aims to assess global demand for won assets in blockchain-based markets. Shinhan Asset Management has partnered with Plume Network to test a Korean won-denominated tokenized fund through an offshore pilot. The project will examine how Korean financial assets could operate within global blockchain-based money markets. Shinhan will use an ultra-short-term bond fund as the underlying asset during the proof-of-concept program. Shinhan tests won-denominated fund tokenization. Shinhan signed a memorandum of understanding with Plume to establish the framework for the planned tokenized fund demonstration. The project will test issuance, distribution, and operational processes without launching a commercial investment product. Both companies will conduct the pilot outside South Korea under an isolated technical structure. The test will use Shinhan's won-denominated ultra-short-term bond fund as the underlying financial asset. Meanwhile, Plume will examine technical requirements for introducing tokenization functions within overseas blockchain markets. The companies will use BlackRock's BUIDL tokenized fund structure as a reference for the project. Shinhan will also test whether institutional infrastructure can support Korean won assets in international on-chain markets. The assessment will cover transfer controls, operational procedures, identity verification, and transaction monitoring requirements. Furthermore, the project will examine potential regulatory challenges before any future tokenized product moves toward commercial distribution. Plume brings tokenization infrastructure to pilot. Plume specializes in blockchain infrastructure designed for real-world asset tokenization and regulated financial products. The network focuses on connecting conventional financial assets with blockchain-based markets through compliance-focused systems. Therefore, its role will center on the technical structure required for the Shinhan pilot. The companies will test whitelist-based transfer restrictions for controlling access to tokenized fund interests. They will also examine Know Your Customer procedures and Anti-Money Laundering controls within the blockchain framework. Additionally, the pilot will assess how operational processes could function directly through on-chain infrastructure. Plume holds a Transfer Agent registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company has also participated in industry discussions concerning standards for tokenized financial services. Its work places the network among companies developing infrastructure for regulated real-world assets across global markets. Shinhan targets global demand for Korean won assets. Stablecoins currently dominate blockchain-based money markets, with most liquidity concentrated around U.S. dollar-denominated assets. Korean won financial products still have limited representation across international decentralized financial infrastructure. Shinhan aims to test whether high-quality Korean assets can attract demand from overseas blockchain markets. The demonstration also reflects South Korea's growing preparations for regulated tokenized securities and digital financial products. Shinhan will keep the current project limited to proof-of-concept testing and infrastructure development. Domestic residents will remain excluded from acquiring assets connected with the pilot through contractual and technical restrictions. Shinhan expects the project to strengthen its capabilities before wider tokenized financial products receive regulatory approval. Future issuance or distribution would require compliance with applicable domestic and international laws. Consequently, the partnership establishes an early framework for connecting Korean won assets with institutional-grade global blockchain infrastructure. Yasmin is a crypto content analyst and writer with over 2 years of experience. She has a strong understanding of the crypto market and blockchain technologies. As an avid trader who stays updated on the latest trends and news, Yasmin delivers insightful and informative content. August 14, 2026