South Korea Bets Big on Digital Assets with 25% Budget Allocation by 2030

South Korea is making a bold MOVE into digital finance, earmarking 25% of its $499 billion national budget for digital assets by 2030. The plan kicks off in 2026 with EV subsidies distributed via deposit tokens—a pilot for broader adoption. The government will revise the National Treasury Fund Management Act to create a legal framework for these tokens, while electronic wallets will link to fiscal systems.

At the heart of the strategy is Project Hangang, the Bank of Korea’s experimental CBDC payment network. This initiative aims to modernize subsidy distribution and test deposit tokens’ scalability. The Digital Currency Utilization Plan targets 2026 for full integration with national treasury management—a timeline that positions South Korea ahead of most G20 peers in CBDC deployment.

The budget commitment signals more than just infrastructure spending. It’s a wager that digital assets can streamline government disbursements, from EV incentives to social programs. With this move, Seoul joins a select group of nations betting that blockchain-based systems will redefine public finance.