#SouthKoreaCryptoPolicy South Korea has a strict regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, overseen by the Financial Services Commission (FSC). Here are some key aspects ¹:
- *Regulatory Bodies:*
- Financial Services Commission (FSC): primary regulator for crypto
- Financial Supervisory Service (FSS): assists in overseeing crypto regulations
- Korea Financial Intelligence Unit (KoFIU): involved in anti-money laundering efforts
- *Key Regulations:*
- Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) procedures: required for crypto exchanges and service providers
- Virtual Asset User Protection Act (VAUPA): safeguards user assets, prevents unfair practices, and grants FSC oversight powers
- Cold wallet storage: at least 80% of users' assets must be stored in cold wallets to protect against hacking and system failures
- *Taxation:*
- 20% tax on crypto gains exceeding 2.5 million won (~ $1,800): implementation delayed until 2028
- *Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and Security Token Offerings (STOs):*
- ICOs: banned in 2017 due to concerns over fraud and market manipulation; potential lifting of ban being discussed
- STOs: viewed positively, with regulations in progress to allow STOs under the Capital Markets Law
- *Recent Developments:*
- President Lee Jae-myung's administration is expected to accelerate crypto integration, with plans for a Digital Asset Basic Act and potential approval of spot crypto ETFs
- Proposed won-based stablecoin: aims to leverage K-culture and promote digital assets in Southeast Asia
Overall, South Korea's crypto regulatory environment is complex, with a balance between innovation and consumer protection. The government continues to evolve its regulations to address emerging trends and technologies in the crypto space ².