Hashed Launches Maroo, a Layer1 Blockchain Concept for the Korean Won Stablecoin Economy

Odaily News: Hashed Open Finance, a subsidiary of crypto venture capital firm Hashed, has released a lightweight whitepaper proposing a new Layer1 blockchain concept named Maroo, positioned to serve the Korean Won (KRW) stablecoin economy.

Maroo is designed as a "sovereign blockchain" that balances the openness of public chains with financial regulatory compliance, with a focus on enhancing financial-grade features such as auditability and privacy protection. Network transaction fees will be paid in KRW stablecoins to reduce volatility and increase user participation. Hashed Open Finance pointed out that existing public chains (such as Ethereum) face difficulties in implementing anti-money laundering and KYC mechanisms at the network level, and their highly transparent designs may expose sensitive personal and corporate information.

To address this, Maroo introduces a "dual-track" architecture: an "open path" allows for the free creation of wallets and transactions, while a "compliant path" introduces identity verification and restrictions based on transaction size or scenario. Simultaneously, its Programmable Compliance Layer (PCL) can automatically execute quota and sanction checks during transactions and supports updates in response to regulatory changes; the verifiable privacy framework enables selective information disclosure under necessary legal procedures. Additionally, Maroo reserves AI integration capabilities for authenticating AI agents and managing their permissions and spending limits.

Hashed CEO Simon Kim stated that stablecoins are becoming a crucial part of the global financial infrastructure. Maroo aims to explore a technology-open path that aligns with international standards while respecting the Korean regulatory environment, providing a foundation for banks, financial institutions, and fintech companies to experiment with next-generation financial services.

The report indicates that this initiative aligns with South Korea's direction in advancing KRW stablecoin legislation. Relevant rules are expected to be incorporated into the upcoming "Digital Asset Basic Act" and may be finalized within the first quarter of this year. (The Block)