Jeonju Startup CrossHub Achieves Best of Innovation Award at CES 2026

Conquering the Global Market with Top 1% Technology

CrossHub Co., a promising fintech startup in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, won the 'Best Innovation Award.' Photo by Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do.

A promising fintech startup based in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, has emerged as a global leader after being recognized for world-class innovation at CES 2026, the world's largest IT and electronics exhibition.

According to Jeonju City on January 8, CrossHub Co., a Jeonju-based company, won the 'Best of Innovation' award in the fintech category at CES 2026, which is currently being held in Las Vegas, USA.

The CES Best of Innovation Award is the highest honor, given to less than 1% of the products exhibited, recognizing those with the most outstanding technology, design, and innovation. It is a remarkable achievement for a youth-led startup from Jeonju to stand alongside global big tech companies such as Google and Samsung.

The award-winning product, 'Financial Passport,' is a fourth-generation hybrid identity authentication technology based on blockchain. It enables overseas visitors to use their home country’s payment methods to access local delivery, mobility, and accommodation services without the need for complicated registration, earning high praise for its combination of security and user convenience.

This achievement was made possible by the organic cooperation among local innovation stakeholders. Discovered through the 'Jeonbuk Early Investment Krypton Innovation Fund No. 1,' which is funded by Jeonju City, CrossHub secured an investment of 800 million won last year, providing a foundation for its growth. Going forward, the city plans to focus on nurturing technology startups by utilizing a 18 billion won regional innovation venture fund and a 3.3 billion won angel investment fund.

Woo Beomgi, Mayor of Jeonju, stated, "This award is a very proud result, proving that technology created by young entrepreneurs from Jeonju is world-class," and added, "We will spare no effort in investing and providing infrastructure so that startups with innovative ideas can use Jeonju as a base to lead the global market."