Korea Eases Rules on Overseas Crypto Investments, Eyes Domestic Issuer Registration
Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang-yong confirmed residents may invest in overseas-issued virtual assets and noted pilots for tokenized deposits and wholesale CBDCs amid plans for domestic issuance registration.
On January 27, Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang-yong stated that South Korean residents are now permitted to invest in overseas-issued virtual assets, marking a key change in investment rules. Regulators are examining a domestic issuer registration framework to allow issuance under formal oversight. The central bank is piloting tokenized deposit systems and wholesale central bank digital currencies to support a dual-layer financial structure, indicating active steps toward modernization of payment infrastructure and regulated crypto integration.
- Tokenized deposits: Bank deposits represented on blockchain-based systems, designed to improve settlement efficiency while remaining within the regulated banking framework.
- Wholesale CBDC: A central bank digital currency intended for interbank or institutional use, rather than for direct access by the general public.