Coupang Pay, the fintech division of South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang, is ramping up its push into digital assets by recruiting in-house legal counsel with expertise in stablecoins and crypto regulation. The hiring move highlights the company’s growing ambitions in blockchain-based payments as South Korea moves closer to introducing a regulatory framework for stablecoins.
The company recently posted two job openings on its careers page, targeting both junior attorneys and senior legal professionals. One listing is designed for lawyers with less than two years of experience, while the other seeks senior or principal-level counsel with at least three years of experience in fintech or digital asset regulation. Despite the difference in seniority, both roles share similar responsibilities, including legal oversight of domestic fintech payments, virtual asset regulations, and global payment partnerships.
A key focus of the positions is stablecoin-related operations. The successful candidates will review legal structures for stablecoin issuance, usage, and distribution while managing regulatory engagement with authorities such as South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and the Financial Services Commission (FSC). The senior role also requires the ability to translate emerging regulatory frameworks into potential business opportunities, indicating that Coupang Pay sees its legal team as part of its strategic growth engine rather than just a compliance unit.
Coupang, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, operates major e-commerce and digital services platforms across South Korea and Taiwan. The company already has exposure to blockchain infrastructure. In late 2024, Coupang became an early partner in Tempo, a Layer 1 blockchain developed by Stripe that focuses on stablecoin payments. The network is currently being tested by major financial institutions including Visa, Deutsche Bank, and Standard Chartered.
The financial benefits of adopting stablecoin payments could be significant. Coupang generated roughly $33 billion in revenue last year. If stablecoins reduce payment processing costs by replacing traditional card networks with an estimated 1% fee, the company could potentially save around $340 million annually. Additional savings could come from reducing cross-border remittance costs when transferring funds to its U.S. parent company.
The job postings also highlight international ambitions. Legal work may involve payment operations connected to Coupang Taiwan, the Farfetch luxury platform, and a future “global integrated app,” suggesting that stablecoin payment integration could expand beyond South Korea into overseas markets.
The hiring effort coincides with increasing regulatory momentum in South Korea. Lawmakers and the ruling party are currently discussing legislation that would allow the issuance of Korean won-backed stablecoins, potentially ending nearly a decade-long restriction on domestic stablecoin issuance. However, regulatory approval may not be straightforward for Coupang. The company faced criticism last year following a personal data leak incident and its decision to conduct an internal investigation rather than fully cooperate with regulators.
Despite potential political challenges, the competition to lead South Korea’s emerging stablecoin market is intensifying. Coupang Pay’s latest hiring initiative signals that the company intends to play a major role in shaping the future of digital payments and blockchain-based financial infrastructure in Asia.
