- 7-Eleven stores in South Korea now accept CBDC as part of a nationwide trial program.
- The CBDC pilot involves major banks and retailers, with users converting up to 5 million won.
Anyone who has ever rushed to a 7-Eleven because they were hungry in the middle of the night knows how convenient the chain is. But starting this month, 7-Elevens in South Korea will no longer be just places to buy instant noodles and canned coffee.
Customers will now be able to pay using South Korea’s central bank digital currency (CBDC)—instead of using cash, debit cards, or traditional digital wallet apps. It’s part of a nationwide trial that will run until the end of June 2025, as part of the government’s efforts to test the feasibility and widespread acceptance of CBDC in everyday transactions.
Interestingly, every customer who pays with CBDC at a 7-Eleven will get a 10% discount on all products. Not just a one-or-two item deal like usual, but an entire purchase.
🚨JUST IN: 🇰🇷South Korea’s 7-Eleven stores to accept CBDC payments, local news reported.
🏪The store chain is the first to test the Bank of Korea's digital currency through a pilot program. pic.twitter.com/tQknYCQGub
— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) April 2, 2025
South Korea Expands CBDC Trials Beyond 7-Eleven Stores
However, it’s not just 7-Elevens that are getting involved. Coffee shops, supermarkets, K-pop merchandise stores, and even food delivery platforms are also taking part in the trial. The government, through the Bank of Korea, along with the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and the Financial Supervisory Service, is taking on the role of overseer.
The project, known as the “Hangang Project,” involves 100,000 selected participants, as we previously reported. They are given the opportunity to convert up to 5 million won—about $3,400—into a digital equivalent of physical won.
Some might frown, why bother changing payment methods when cards and apps are so convenient? But for the South Korean government, the project has a deeper meaning: it’s a test of the country’s digital financial system. And don’t forget, it could also pave the way for more efficient transaction oversight and a reduction in the systemic risk of cash circulation.
CBDC Push Aligned With Crypto Regulation Shift
Major banks such as KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori, NongHyup, IBK, and Busan Bank are also participating. The program is only open to South Koreans aged 19 and over who have accounts at these banks.
The government, on the other hand, seems to be deliberately linking the CBDC policy to the easing of crypto regulations. In January 2025, the FSC announced its intention to lift the ban on institutions trading crypto assets. The move was to align the domestic regulatory framework with global practices that are increasingly open to digital assets.
On the other hand, the CNF previously reported that crypto users in South Korea now outnumber traditional stock investors. The total number of accounts registered on major digital asset exchanges reached 16.29 million—nearly a third of the country’s entire population.
Besides that, a study released in March 2025 showed a sharp increase in the number of local crypto investors. More than 9.6 million people were recorded as owning crypto at the end of the previous year. Interestingly, the biggest increase came from the over-50 age group—those who are usually associated with leather wallets, not digital wallets.
