Optimism, the blockchain infrastructure firm behind the OP Stack that now powers over 32 layer-2 networks globally, is deepening its South Korea push. On July 16, the company announced partnerships with Dunamu’s GIWA blockchain, fintech giant Toss, and DB Securities to build on-chain financial infrastructure for local institutions, fintechs, and crypto firms.
The OP Stack is an open-source toolkit that lets companies spin up their own Ethereum layer-2 chains. Coinbase, Kraken, Sony, and Dunamu already run chains on it. Optimism sees rising demand in South Korea for infrastructure that balances speed, regulatory compliance, and privacy – especially as security token offerings (STOs), real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, and stablecoin projects gain traction.
Through its OP Enterprise product, Optimism offers a turnkey institutional solution. Clients can run finance, trading, and payment functions on blockchain without building their own development teams. The service covers sequencer management, security patches, and upgrades, plus customizable compliance rules and fee policies.
The Dunamu tie-up builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in May. The two firms will refine the GIWA blockchain’s tech and explore global expansion models. Dunamu operates Upbit, South Korea’s largest crypto exchange, giving the partnership significant local market reach.
Separately, on July 8, Optimism signed an MOU with Toss and launched a three-month proof-of-concept. The test will assess whether the OP Stack can handle won-based digital financial infrastructure, focusing on regulatory compliance, privacy, and performance. Toss is a major mobile financial platform in South Korea, with millions of users.
The DB Securities collaboration targets a Jeju-focused STO and RWA initiative. Optimism and DB Securities plan to tokenize assets tied to Jeju – smart-farm assets, livestock, and Korean intellectual property – into security tokens and RWAs. They will also look for global cooperation models.
Optimism said it expects further partnership opportunities in South Korea’s financial sector as the government and institutions push toward regulated digital asset markets. The company’s push comes as the country tightens crypto rules while encouraging STO and RWA adoption – a delicate balancing act that could accelerate demand for compliant layer-2 infrastructure.
Optimism partners with South Korean firms to build regulated blockchain finance
Optimism is expanding its South Korea business through partnerships with Dunamu, Toss, and DB Securities to enhance blockchain infrastructure for financial institutions. This development supports faster, cheaper Ethereum transactions and institutional adoption of on-chain finance in South Korea.