POSCO International Tokenizes Live Trade Receivables on Injective Blockchain

POSCO International, South Korea's largest trading company and a $22.2 billion revenue generator last year, has moved from theory into live production: it is now tokenizing actual trade receivables on the Injective blockchain in a pilot program with LG CNS, embedding compliance rules directly into the digital assets to accelerate settlement between its global subsidiaries.

Trade receivables are money owed to a company after goods have been shipped but before payment is received. Currently, these are tracked separately by buyers, sellers and banks, with reconciliation often taking days before cash can be released. By putting receivables onto a shared blockchain ledger, they become a single record that can be transferred and settled while carrying compliance rules with the asset itself, according to CoinDesk's reporting. The arrangement allows companies to move working capital more efficiently on blockchain rails while giving banks and financing partners a shared view of the asset.

The pilot differs from most corporate blockchain trials in one critical way: it is using receivables generated by real trade between POSCO's overseas operations and their counterparties, rather than simulated transactions. A POSCO International spokesperson told CoinDesk: 'This PoC is significant in that it validated the applicability of AI and blockchain technology based on real trade data and processes.' The company plans to expand the initiative into live production after completing the pilot later this year.

The move sits within a broader wave of institutional tokenization. Asset managers including BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, Apollo, Fidelity, Janus Henderson and Mubadala Capital have all brought funds onchain, and the market for tokenized assets has reached $35 billion, per CoinDesk's data. Citi estimates the tokenized asset market could reach $5.5 trillion by 2030. Regional momentum is building too: Hyundai began using stablecoins for internal treasury transfers between its U.S. and Mexico operations earlier this month, according to CoinDesk. Stablecoin issuer Circle recently partnered with Kakao Group and Toss Bank to explore stablecoin payment infrastructure, the desk reported.

LG CNS, POSCO's technology partner, brings institutional credibility to the effort. The company has previously worked on the Bank of Korea's central bank digital currency pilot and operates tokenization platforms for KOSCOM and Mirae Asset Securities, per CoinDesk.

Yet the pilot remains a proof-of-concept. The sources do not report production volume metrics, quantified settlement time reductions, or cost savings that would demonstrate blockchain's advantage over traditional trade finance systems. Regulatory approval for corporate receivable tokenization in South Korea remains unclear, and the sources do not address compliance frameworks or regulatory sign-off beyond POSCO's stated plans. Injective is a single blockchain; the sources do not address network stability, security audits, or alternative options if technical issues arise.