Seoul Exchange, one of only two government-approved platforms for unlisted securities in South Korea, has signed an exclusive partnership with Story Protocol to advance tokenized real-world asset (RWA) trading. The three-year agreement makes Story’s Layer-1 blockchain the sole infrastructure for registering and settling tokenized assets on the exchange.
This move places Seoul Exchange at the forefront of South Korea’s cryptocurrency sector, a market valued at $450 billion and recognized as the second-largest in the world by trading volume. The collaboration seeks to establish a regulated marketplace dedicated to cultural assets that have historically been difficult to trade.
The initiative will revolve around tokenizing intellectual property (IP), enabling investment in Korea’s global cultural exports such as K-pop royalties, K-drama rights, webtoons, gaming IP, and patents. Story Protocol has already supported the tokenization of content linked to globally recognized names, including BTS, BLACKPINK, Psy, and the viral sensation Baby Shark.
First Exchange for Tokenized IP in Korea
Through this partnership, Seoul Exchange and Story Protocol are working to launch Korea’s first dedicated exchange for tokenized IP. The platform aims to serve both retail and institutional investors, providing regulated access to a diverse set of cultural assets. With Story’s programmable blockchain architecture and its native $IP token, creators and production companies will have greater control over their intellectual property, while investors and fans will be able to participate directly in the growth of these assets.
Korean cultural products dominate international entertainment, yet creators often benefit less compared to global platforms and distributors that capture much of the value. Tokenization introduces a new financing model, reducing reliance on upfront deals and pre-production contracts. Instead, it allows creators to share in long-term growth alongside their audiences, aligning incentives across the ecosystem.
Executives at Seoul Exchange emphasized that this model would strengthen the foundation of their securities token offering (STO) exchange and position the company as a leader in Korea’s tokenization landscape. Leaders at Story Protocol noted that intellectual property represents one of the largest untapped asset classes globally, valued at over $80 trillion, and argued that tokenization would make Korea’s cultural IP more accessible worldwide.
Seoul Exchange is on track to become 1 of 2 licensed RWA exchanges in Korea.
In the world's second largest crypto market by KRW trading volume, Story will be Seoul Exchange’s exclusive blockchain infra for the next 3 years.
From K-pop to patents, Korean RWAs will run on $IP. pic.twitter.com/MgqJLeL71t
— Story (@StoryProtocol) September 22, 2025
Institutional Backing and Regulatory Oversight
Operating within Korea’s regulatory sandbox, Seoul Exchange has already attracted investment from leading players, including SoftBank Ventures, Hashed, Capstone Partners, and POSCO Technology. By leveraging Story’s infrastructure, the exchange intends to offer a transparent and compliant environment for STOs.
Story Protocol itself has secured $136 million in funding from major global venture firms, including a16z, Polychain, and Samsung Ventures. Launched in early 2025, its blockchain was designed to make intellectual property programmable, embedding licensing terms, royalty structures, and usage rights directly into tokenized assets.
Unlocking the Potential of a $80 Trillion Market
Global intellectual property is estimated to be worth more than $80 trillion, yet much of it remains locked away in illiquid formats. By bringing creative and cultural IP on-chain, Seoul Exchange and Story Protocol are attempting to open up new financial markets that connect Korea’s thriving cultural industries with international investors.
If regulatory approval is granted, the exchange may also integrate a won-pegged stablecoin to streamline settlements and ensure compatibility with Korea’s broader financial ecosystem.
This partnership signals the beginning of a new era for South Korea’s digital asset market, one that fuses cultural capital with blockchain-powered finance. By focusing on tokenized IP, Seoul Exchange and Story Protocol are positioning themselves to reshape how value is distributed across the entertainment and creative industries, while extending global accessibility to one of the world’s most dynamic cultural economies.