Lee Eog-won, chairman of the Korean Monetary Companies Fee, emphasised the necessity to restrict the possession of main shareholders in digital asset exchanges. He mentioned the measure was essential to align governance requirements with the change’s rising public position.
The proposed possession restrictions come amid broader regulatory strikes in South Korea’s cryptocurrency market. The federal government is getting ready to develop anti-money laundering guidelines by making the Cryptocurrency Journey Rule relevant to transfers of lower than $680.
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This modification follows the Digital Asset Consumer Safety Act, which comes into impact in July 2025 and prohibits insider buying and selling, market manipulation, and unlawful buying and selling of digital belongings. Exchanges will now be required to gather and share details about senders and recipients of small transfers.
The feedback recommend regulators plan to press forward with the proposal regardless of resistance from trade gamers and considerations from the ruling Democratic Celebration.
In response to studies, the FSC is contemplating capping the controlling shareholder’s shareholding ratio at round 15-20%. This provision will probably be included within the interim digital belongings primary regulation, which will probably be thought of the second part of the nation’s digital belongings regulation.
Monetary Companies Fee Chairman Lee Eog-won on Wednesday formally emphasised the necessity to restrict the possession of main shareholders in digital asset exchanges. https://t.co/zpV4sxM29I
— Korea Occasions (@koreatimescokr) January 28, 2026
South Korea targets possession focus danger
Lee mentioned current rules, such because the Specified Monetary Transaction Info Reporting and Use Act and the Digital Asset Consumer Safety Act, primarily give attention to anti-money laundering and investor safety. “The proposed transition to a licensed system would successfully give exchanges everlasting operational standing,” he mentioned, including that governance guidelines can be wanted that replicate the broader position of exchanges.
He identified that if accredited, the change would now not be handled as only a personal firm, however would have the identical traits as public infrastructure. “Extreme focus of possession may improve the chance of conflicts of curiosity and undermine the integrity of the market,” Lee mentioned. He additionally identified that inventory exchanges and various buying and selling methods already face possession restrictions.
The proposal is a part of efforts to combine crypto exchanges into the mainstream monetary system and enhance accountability, transparency, and public oversight.
Upbit, Coinone stakes might have a cap
The joint council of home exchanges, together with Upbit, Bithumb and Coinone, opposes the cap, warning that it may hinder the sector’s improvement. In Upbit, chairman Music Chi-hyun and associated events maintain greater than 28% of the shares, whereas CoinOne founder Cha Myung-hoon controls about 53%.
Lee mentioned talks with the ruling celebration are persevering with. “We are going to proceed our discussions with Parliament and related ministries to make sure the invoice strikes ahead with out pointless delays,” he mentioned.
