POSCO puts live trade receivables onchain with LG CNS

POSCO International is testing blockchain-based trade finance with LG CNS and Injective.

The South Korean trading company has placed receivables from real commercial transactions into a proof-of-concept system that can issue, transfer and settle the claims onchain.

The trial uses trade data from POSCO International’s overseas subsidiaries and their counterparties, rather than simulated invoices. The companies aim to create one shared record for buyers, sellers and financing partners while keeping compliance rules linked to each digital claim.

POSCO tests real commercial receivables on Injective

Trade receivables are amounts that customers owe after a company delivers goods or services. Businesses often record the same invoice across separate systems. Each party must check documents and payment status before settlement.

CoinDesk reported that the pilot covers live trade between POSCO units and outside counterparties. The partners are using Injective, a layer-1 blockchain built for financial applications, to test the issuance, transfer and settlement of the claims. A Korean business report said the project also tests AI-based trade-document processing.

POSCO International recorded 32.37 trillion won in 2025 sales, according to its. Its operations cover steel, energy and battery materials. However, the companies have not disclosed the total value or number of receivables entered into the system. 

A POSCO spokesperson said the proof of concept “validated the applicability of AI and blockchain technology based on real trade data and processes.” However, the companies have not published figures on processing speed, costs, error rates or settlement savings. POSCO plans to consider live production after the test phase later this year.

Shared ledger targets slow reconciliation work

The project aims to replace separate invoice records with a common ledger. Approved participants can view the same transaction status and ownership history. The system can also carry conditions that control who may receive or transfer a tokenized receivable.

This structure could reduce repeated checks when a shipment, invoice or payment moves between countries. It may also give banks and financing firms a clearer record when they assess a receivable for early payment. However, the pilot does not remove legal agreements, identity checks, accounting rules or local trade requirements.

Tokenization turns a financial or commercial claim into a digital record on a blockchain. In this case, the token represents money owed to POSCO International or one of its subsidiaries. It does not represent POSCO shares or give a holder ownership in the company.

The project has not announced an open market for the receivables or said whether outside investors will buy them. The current test focuses on business processes, transfers and settlement between approved parties rather than public trading.

LG CNS brings experience from Korean finance projects

LG CNS serves as the technology partner. The LG Group company has built blockchain systems for financial institutions. It also took part in the Bank of Korea’s central bank digital currency work and operates tokenization platforms for Koscom and Mirae Asset Securities. (

Injective supplies the blockchain layer used to record and move the receivables. The partners have not disclosed how they divide data between onchain records and private company systems. They also have not explained what access controls protect sensitive commercial information.

POSCO International has already tested blockchain in corporate funding. In April, it announced South Korea’s first foreign-currency digital bond issued by a non-financial company. The company said blockchain reduced the bond’s settlement period from five days to three. 

The receivables pilot moves that work into daily trade finance. Bonds raise funds from investors, while receivables arise from normal sales. Both projects use digital records to shorten processing and provide a shared view of ownership and settlement.

South Korean companies expand corporate blockchain tests

The POSCO project follows other corporate blockchain trials in South Korea. As crypto.news previously reported, Hyundai Motor’s U.S. and Mexican operations completed a $20,000 treasury payment using USDT on Avalanche. The companies said the transfer took about seven minutes. 

Meanwhile, Circle signed agreements with Kakao Group and Toss to study stablecoin payments, remittances and merchant settlement in South Korea. Separately, Mirae Asset placed tokenization, security tokens and stablecoins within the strategy for its newly renamed Digital X business.

POSCO’s pilot differs because it places a business claim onchain rather than sending a stablecoin payment. The receivable can carry ownership information and compliance conditions before payment occurs. A stablecoin may later serve as the settlement asset, but the companies have not announced that step.

The partners have not released technical documents, contract addresses or a production date. They also have not named participating banks or counterparties. POSCO is expected to decide whether to apply the system across more subsidiaries after completing the testing process.