Korea Financial Services Commission Plans Crypto Trading Rules Excluding USD Stablecoins
The South Korean FSC will permit listed companies and professional investment firms to trade approved cryptocurrencies while excluding USD-backed stablecoins, aligning with current foreign exchange regulations.
The claim is directly supported by a primary report from a reputable South Korean financial news outlet (Herald Economy) which provides specific details on the FSC's internal deliberations and the legal rationale for the policy. The report explains that while listed companies will be permitted to trade digital assets for financial purposes, USD-backed stablecoins (USDT/USDC) are excluded to avoid conflicts with the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act, which does not currently recognize them as valid payment means. The timing of the report (March 7, 2026) aligns with the current date provided in the user context.
South Korea’s Financial Services Commission announced that its forthcoming corporate crypto trading guidelines will allow listed corporations and professional investment firms to trade certain digital assets through approved channels, explicitly excluding USD-backed stablecoins such as USDT and USDC due to conflicts with existing foreign exchange laws. The rules aim to provide a structured framework for corporate participation in cryptocurrencies and will take effect following the finalization of the Digital Asset Basic Act, while ongoing parliamentary reviews may influence future stablecoin regulations.
- Stablecoin: A cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value by being pegged to a reference asset such as the U.S. dollar.
- Tether (USDT): A widely used USD-pegged stablecoin issued by Tether, commonly utilized in cryptocurrency trading and liquidity provision.
- USD Coin (USDC): A regulated U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin issued by Circle and Coinbase, frequently used for digital asset transactions and settlements.