By Daniel Cooper, Senior Correspondent AK News | April 10, 2026
South Korea's Financial Services Commission (FSC) proposed the South Korea digital asset law on April 10, 2026. It mandates 100% reserves for stablecoin issuers and licensing for crypto firms. The rules protect 20 million holders while fostering innovation, per FSC data.
Stablecoin Rules Under South Korea Digital Asset Law
Stablecoin issuers must register with FSC and hold reserves in KRW or USD equivalents. Certified firms conduct monthly audits. FSC bans algorithmic stablecoins without stress-tested full collateralization.
Violators face fines up to 5 billion KRW ($3.7M). The rules address the 2022 TerraUSD collapse that erased $40B. They align with EU's MiCA regulation.
Shinhan Bank and KB Kookmin Bank pilot stablecoins under FSC oversight. Korea Blockchain Association projects 10 trillion KRW ($7.4B) revenue by 2030 from payments and DeFi.
Crypto Exchange Requirements
VASPs like Upbit and Bithumb segregate client funds in cold storage. They deploy AI for real-time monitoring and quarterly proof-of-reserves audits by firms like Armanino.
Non-compliance triggers 90-day shutdowns and fines up to 10% of revenue. Upbit reports readiness with systems handling 500,000 TPS.
Trading volumes surged 15% post-announcement (CoinDesk). BTC hit $73,191 (+1.2%), ETH $2,253.83 (+1.8%). Crypto Fear & Greed Index fell to 16 (Alternative.me).
Institutional and Market Response
Asia-Pacific crypto inflows rose 8% week-over-week (Chainalysis). Samsung Asset Management plans to custody licensed stablecoins. FSC eyes spot BTC ETF approvals by Q3 2026.
Naver survey of 10,000 users shows 45% plan crypto buys in six months. Kakao Pay integrates stablecoin wallets for 30 million users at 100,000 TPS. Dunamu invests 200 billion KRW ($148M) in compliance tech.
Enforcement and Timeline
FSC assembles 200-member task force with KISA experts. National Assembly votes in July 2026; interim rules start June 1. Penalties include 10-year prison terms and asset freezes.
Digital asset crimes dropped 25% YoY (FSC). Busan sandboxes enroll 50 firms. VASP oversight fees project 1 trillion KRW annually.
Economic Impact
The South Korea digital asset law positions the nation as Asia's crypto hub. Bank of Korea predicts 2% GDP boost by 2028 from tokenized assets and smart contracts.
KIPO reports 15,000 blockchain patents filed in 2025. Line Next and Kakao process $500M monthly in Web3 services.
Future Outlook
South Korea mirrors Singapore's 2025 stablecoin rules and Japan's 2023 licensing. Officials seek G20 alignment at April 15 Seoul talks.
Galaxy Digital forecasts BTC at $90,000 by end-2026. Messari sees global stablecoin market cap grow 50%. The South Korea digital asset law builds trust amid 30% adoption among under-35s (FSC).
