🚨 South Korea Lifts 7-Year Ban on Crypto VC Investments

🇰🇷 Starting September 16, crypto startups in South Korea can once again apply for venture certification, after the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) officially removed digital asset trading and brokerage from its list of restricted industries.

🔑 Key context:

◾️ The ban was imposed in October 2018, when crypto was viewed alongside gambling and nightlife businesses.

◾️ Industry leaders long argued it stifled fintech competitiveness and kept Korea behind global markets.

◾️ Since then, the global landscape has shifted — the U.S. introduced stablecoin frameworks and listed major crypto companies, while Korea itself passed the Virtual Asset User Protection Act (2025).

🔍 Why this matters:

◾️ Signals a regulatory shift toward mainstreaming blockchain and crypto ventures.

◾️ Opens the door for venture capital inflows into South Korean crypto startups.

◾️ Strengthens Korea’s position in the global fintech and digital asset race.

◾️ After 7 years, Seoul is finally giving crypto innovation another green light.

#Crypto #Blockchain #SouthKorea #Fintech #VentureCapital

https://coingape.com/south-korea-ends-2018-ban-on-vc-investments-in-crypto-firms/?utm_source=coingape&utm_medium=linkedin