A Quick Guide to Cryptocurrency-related Regulators and Companies in Korea
Overview
South Korean government officially legalized Bitcoin service providers to facilitate payments, transfers and trades back in July 2017, causing significant growth in the demand for cryptocurrency trading in the country. By mid-2017, the local exchange market already processed over 14 percent of global Bitcoin trades, being the third largest market behind the U.S. and Japan. In December 2017, the government notoriously banned anonymous trading on local exchanges. In January 22 this year, the South Korean government also announced a substantial tax levied on local crypto exchanges.
Important Regulators to Know
Important Regulators to Know | Quick Description |
Financial Services Commission (FSC) | South Korean government’s top financial regulator |
Financial Supervisory Service | South Korea’s integrated financial regulator that examines and supervises financial institutions under the broad oversight of the Financial Services Commission |
South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT | Korea’s ministry that sets, manages, and evaluates science and technology policy, support scientific research and development, |
Financial Innovation Bureau | FSC’s department dedicated to cryptocurrency and blockchain |
Korea Internet & Security Agency | Korea’s internet content watchdog |
Blockchain Industry Association | an industry body tasked with implementing self-regulatory measures for the Korean crypto market, |
List of crypto-related companies and exchanges
Companies | Exchange | Projects |
Kakaotalk | Bithumb | ICON |
Samsung | Upbit | Terra coin |
SK Telecom | Coinone | |
Shinhan bank | Korbit | |
GroundX |
comment: most crypto projects in Korea are enterprise and large public companies conducting reverse ICOs
Other reads: https://archive.globalcoinresearch.com/2018/10/15/a-primer-on-south-korea-cryptocurrency-a-complicated-relationship/
To learn more about the rest of Asia, start off with our GCR Asia Assessment grid:
Here is a quick overview of the blockchain business landscape by FoundationX:
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There are many blockchain companies in Korea