Jun Ji-hye, a reporter at the finance desk of The Korea Times, focuses primarily on economic policy and government agencies, mainly covering the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the National Tax Service and the Korea Customs Service. She previously covered financial authorities, including the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service, and earlier worked on the political, city and business desks, reporting on a wide range of issues.
Korean startup Crosshub wins CES award in fintech category
A concept image of IDBlock, Crosshub's next-generation hybrid identity authentication system / Courtesy of Crosshub
By Jun Ji-hye
Korean startup Crosshub has been named the winner of the Best of Innovation Award in the fintech category at the CES 2026, the company said Tuesday.
The firm, established in May 2024, earned the accolade for its blockchain-based digital identity verification service, IDBlock, and its global cross-border payment platform, B-Pay.
The awards, organized by the Consumer Technology Association, recognizes companies demonstrating outstanding technological innovation and leadership across industries. Winners are announced ahead of the world’s largest consumer electronics and IT exhibition, held every January in Las Vegas.
IDBlock combines artificial intelligence (AI)-driven facial recognition with passport eKYC (electronic Know Your Customer) verification to deliver a secure blockchain-based digital identity solution.
The service underpins B-Pay, which allows international users to access Korean domestic services, including food delivery, public transportation, accommodations and reservations, providing seamless cross-border payment experiences.
Since its founding, Crosshub has achieved a cumulative transaction volume exceeding 500 billion won ($342 million) through soft launches in five countries, and has partnered with over 120 companies and 60,000 merchants.
The startup has also secured strategic partnerships with six major Korean financial institutions and is running more than 20 proof-of-concept projects both domestically and internationally.
Building on its CES award, Crosshub plans to accelerate its expansion into North America and Europe, aiming to evolve from identity verification and payments toward a comprehensive digital wallet platform covering sectors such as education, insurance, health care and other applications.
“This award represents global recognition of our fourth-generation hybrid identity authentication technology,” Crosshub CEO Park Soo-jung said. “We are committed to delivering better digital experiences worldwide by breaking down the barriers between identity verification, payment and remittance.”