Korean Regulator Lifts Nine-Year Ban on Corporate Crypto Trading

Korean Regulator Lifts Nine-Year Ban on Corporate Crypto Trading

The Financial Services Commission will allow listed firms and professional investors to trade top 20 cryptocurrencies with limits, marking a regulatory turning point for South Korea’s crypto market.

Fact Check
The assessment is based on strong, consistent evidence from multiple credible sources. The most direct piece of evidence comes from a reputable financial news source (Yahoo Finance), which explicitly states that South Korea's Financial Services Commission (FSC) has reportedly ended its nine-year ban on corporate crypto trading. This directly supports the claim. This central claim is further corroborated by other sources indicating a broader trend of relaxing crypto regulations for corporations in South Korea. A major Korean financial publication (KED Global) reports on regulators easing ownership limits for banks related to stablecoin issuers, and another source (a Euronews post) mentions a new law allowing certain firms to issue stablecoins. While these don't confirm the lifting of the trading ban itself, they show a consistent pattern of deregulation in the corporate crypto space, making the primary claim highly plausible.The Financial Services Commission (FSC) is correctly identified as the ultimate primary authority. The news reports are very likely based on an official announcement from this body. Although the primary press release is not directly provided in the summaries, the high-quality secondary reporting is sufficient for a high-confidence assessment. There is no contradictory evidence among the provided sources.
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Summary

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission plans to end its 2017 ban on corporate cryptocurrency investment, enabling listed companies and professional investors to trade the top 20 coins. A 5% cap based on net assets will be in place to limit risk exposure. Final detailed guidelines are expected in early 2026, representing a significant shift from a retail-dominated market toward regulated institutional participation.

Terms & Concepts
  • Financial Services Commission (South Korea): The primary financial regulator in South Korea overseeing banking, securities, and insurance industries.
  • Cryptocurrency: A digital or virtual currency secured by cryptography, often decentralized and operating on blockchain technology.