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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [BUSINESS]

18 clusters · 52 sources · 105 days · First seen 4 months ago · Last updated 28 days ago

South Korea expands crypto oversight and STO roadmap

Overview

Since June 2026, South Korea has aggressively expanded its crypto-regulatory framework. The cabinet amended the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act, requiring overseas transfer firms to register with the Bank of Korea and report transactions in real-time. Regulatory oversight has intensified, with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) moving to abolish the 1 million won threshold for the ‘Travel Rule,’ requiring sender and receiver information for all virtual asset transfers. New rules also strengthen the screening of major shareholders for digital asset service providers and require corporations to maintain a debt-to-equity ratio below 200%. To combat unfair trading, the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) has launched an automated surveillance process using generative AI and machine learning.

In September 2026, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) detailed a three-stage roadmap to expand security token offerings (STO) to include traditional stocks, bonds, and funds. Following this, the FSC proposed a regulatory framework to allow the issuance and circulation of tokenized securities starting February 4, 2027. The rollout will initially focus on private money-market funds, institutional bonds, trust-based tokenization of unlisted stocks, and publicly offered fractional-investment securities. To ensure stability, companies managing customer accounts directly must maintain at least 4 billion won in equity capital and employ dedicated compliance and technology staff. The framework also introduces an over-the-counter (OTC) exchange license for debt securities, with a 100 million won annual net purchase limit for retail investors.

Securities firms are actively preparing for this transition. Eugene Investment & Securities is conducting a Proof of Concept (PoC) with Bitoz to test using stablecoins for settling token security subscription payments. Shinhan Securities has signed a memorandum of understanding with Blueard and the Lotte Future Strategy Research Institute to develop business models for content-based investment contract securities and token securities.

Entities

South Korea · Financial Services Commission · Koo Yun-cheol · Bank of Korea · Financial Supervisory Service

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 9 SOURCES] Financial authorities will expand token securities beyond fractional investments to include stocks, bonds, and funds.
[● 9 SOURCES] The first phase of implementation is scheduled for February 2027.
[● 9 SOURCES] Initial tokenization will focus on institutional-only private money market funds (MMF), private bonds, and unlisted stocks.
[● 9 SOURCES] The government plans to establish on-chain payment infrastructure using stablecoins in later stages.
[● 7 SOURCES] The standard subscription limit for general investors is suggested as the lesser of 30 million won or 5% of the total issuance amount.
[● 6 SOURCES] General investors will have an annual net purchase limit of 100 million won per over-the-counter (OTC) exchange.
[● 6 SOURCES] The Korea Exchange will conduct pilot programs to test the tokenization of listed stocks.
[● 5 SOURCES] South Korea will begin taxing cryptocurrency gains on 1 January 2027.
[● 4 SOURCES] The tax rate is 20 % national income tax plus a 2 % local levy, totaling 22 % on gains above 2.5 million won.
[● 4 SOURCES] Each taxpayer receives an annual deduction of 2.5 million won for crypto gains.
[● 4 SOURCES] Crypto profits are classified as “other income” rather than capital gains.
[● 4 SOURCES] Loss carryforward is not permitted at launch; crypto losses cannot offset future gains.

Timeline

28 days ago

[BUSINESS] 3 sources
South Korea to launch tokenized securities market in 2027
South Korea plans to launch a tokenized securities market in February 2027, allowing stocks, bonds, and funds to be issued on blockchain infrastructure under new FSC regulations.
about 1 month ago

[BUSINESS] 5 sources
South Korean securities firms expand token security and digital services
South Korean securities firms are advancing token security technologies, including stablecoin settlement trials, and expanding digital investment services and holiday trading support.
about 2 months ago

[BUSINESS] 2 sources
South Korea prepares for 2027 digital asset taxation
South Korea's upcoming 2027 digital asset tax, classified as ‘other income,’ faces scrutiny over transaction tracking and potential increases in health insurance premiums for investors.
about 2 months ago

[BUSINESS] 3 sources
South Korea expands token securities to include stocks and bonds
South Korea is expanding its token securities policy to include stocks, bonds, and funds, aiming to digitize capital market infrastructure via blockchain, mirroring global trends in asset tokenization.
about 2 months ago

[BUSINESS] 13 sources
South Korea to tokenize stocks, bonds, and funds by 2027
South Korea's FSC unveiled a three-stage roadmap to tokenize stocks, bonds, and funds starting February 2027, eventually aiming for stablecoin-based on-chain settlements.
2 months ago

[BUSINESS] 5 sources
South Korea expands crypto access for 3,500 companies
South Korea is launching a digital finance program allowing 3,500 companies to access crypto accounts and testing deposit tokens to shift from retail trading to institutional digital asset markets.
2 months ago

[BUSINESS] 6 sources
South Korea economic updates: Samsung returns, AI crypto oversight, and inflation shifts
South Korea sees record shareholder returns from Samsung Electronics, new AI crypto surveillance, and a 0.4% drop in producer prices, while the government maintains fuel price caps to combat inflation.
3 months ago

[BUSINESS] 3 sources
South Korea tightens cryptocurrency regulations to limit offshore transfers
South Korea is tightening cryptocurrency regulations by restricting offshore exchange access on Google Play and increasing monitoring on transfers exceeding 10 million won to curb offshore liquidity flows.
3 months ago

[BUSINESS] 2 sources
South Korea tightens digital asset regulations and travel rule
South Korean authorities are expanding the travel rule to all virtual asset transfers and tightening shareholder eligibility and financial requirements for digital asset service providers to combat money Laundร
3 months ago

[BUSINESS] 4 sources
South Korea opposition proposes delaying crypto tax to 2030
South Korean opposition lawmaker Jeong Seong-guk has proposed delaying a 22% cryptocurrency tax from 2027 to 2030 to allow for better regulatory frameworks and investor protections.
3 months ago

[BUSINESS] 6 sources
South Korea Implements 22% Crypto Gains Tax for 2027 as Exchange Volume Slumps
South Korea will tax crypto profits at 22% from Jan 2027, exempting gains under $1,740 and disallowing loss offsets. Volume on the country's top five exchanges fell about 55% in H1, raising fears traders will移向
3 months ago

[BUSINESS] 8 sources
South Korea Sets 2027 Crypto Tax at 22% for Gains Over 2.5 Million Won
South Korea will tax crypto gains over 2.5 million won at 22 % starting 1 Jan 2027, with no loss carryforward initially; the schedule was confirmed by Deputy PM Koo Yun‑cheol after three delays.
3 months ago

[POLITICS] 5 sources
South Korea pushes new crypto regulations and exchange compliance measures
South Korea's DAXA held compliance seminars and a telecom‑fraud law meeting for exchanges, while the FSC plans a consolidated crypto law covering stablecoins, amid debate over a crypto income tax repeal.
4 months ago

[BUSINESS] 2 sources
South Korea and US regulatory moves enable crypto‑backed bank loans
Korea’s new court rules and the US Clarify Act remove legal barriers, allowing banks to use cryptocurrency as loan collateral and expand digital‑asset services.
4 months ago

[BUSINESS] 2 sources
Korea Exchange Tightens KOSDAQ Rules on Crypto Treasury Business Shifts
KRX revises KOSDAQ rules to require delisting reviews for firms that shift to crypto treasury businesses within five years, adding disclosure duties during grace periods.
4 months ago

[BUSINESS] 2 sources
South Korea Tightens Crypto Oversight and Moves Ahead With Tokenized Bonds
South Korea tightens crypto regulation, referring manipulation cases to prosecutors while the Bank of Korea expands blockchain projects and plans tokenized government bonds.
4 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
South Korea pushes broader crypto Travel Rule for small transfers
South Korea’s FIU urged the FATF to extend the Travel Rule to lower‑value crypto transfers, require both sending and receiving service providers to share data, and target offshore unregistered platforms.
4 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
South Korea to Regulate Cross‑Border Crypto Transfers, Opening Market to Fintech Firms
South Korea will regulate cross‑border crypto transfers from Dec 2026, requiring registration and real‑time reporting, and opening the market to fintech firms alongside exchanges.

Sources

altcoininvestor.com · ambcrypto.com · archynewsy.com · bitcoinethereumnews.com · biz.heraldcorp.com · blockchainreporter.net · blockmedia.co.kr · blockonomi.com · blocktempo.com · coindoo.com · coinedition.com · coingape.com · coinpaper.com · coinpedia.org · cointelegraph.com · cointrust.com · criptotendencia.com · crypto.news · cryptobreaking.com · cryptobriefing.com · cryptopolitan.com · decrypt.co · en.coin-turk.com · english.hani.co.kr · europesays.com · hani.co.kr · imaeil.com · inversion.es · joseilbo.com · koreaherald.com · livebitcoinnews.com · m.imaeil.com · mycryptoparadise.com · mzee.com · news.bitcoin.com · news.heraldcorp.com · newsbit.nl · newstomato.com · sateconomy.co.kr · silviabillycostaliberi.noblogs.org · socialvalue.kr · sqwosh.com · tekedia.com · tennews.in · tfmedia.co.kr · thecryptobasic.com · thecryptocurrencypost.net · themarketperiodical.com

This summary has been updated 16 times: see revision history