South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) has launched a three-part digital finance program that finally paves the way for 3,500 companies to invest in the crypto market. This move ends a long-standing ban since 2017, when corporations in South Korea were not allowed to trade crypto assets through local exchanges due to banks’ refusal to provide real-name accounts.
This new access is not freely granted to all corporations, but is instead designed with filters to limit investment risks. In the initial phase, the program targets 2,500 listed companies, along with an additional 1,000 corporations registered as professional investors. The government is considering an annual investment limit of 5% of each company’s equity capital. Purchase options are also limited to only the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
Preparing Vaults for Corporate Funds
Local industry players are responding to this policy by setting up hosting infrastructure. BitGo Korea, a custodian entity whose shares are held 25% by Hana Financial Group and 10% by SK Telecom, has secured its virtual asset service provider (VASP) registration from FIU Korea. This registration clears the path for BitGo to offer specialized custody services for institutions.
Banking instrument testing initiatives are also running in tandem. As another pillar of this FSC program, the Bank of Korea is running a deposit token trial. The project involves direct participation from nine major banks alongside the central bank.
Legal Framework for Token Securities to Take Effect in 2027
The final part of this regulatory package touches on the legal recognition of tokenized securities instruments. The regulatory foundation was passed in January 2026 through amendments to the Electronic Securities Act and the Capital Markets Act. These rules are scheduled to take full effect on February 4, 2027, to legalize the tokenization of securities in the country.
Ahead of the law’s implementation deadline, the Korea Securities Depository (KSD) is moving to build supporting infrastructure. KSD has partnered with Samsung SDS to develop a token securities production platform, targeted for completion in early 2027. This shift in the FSC’s direction reveals a new chapter: institutions are once again granted entry, but remain bound by multi-layered restrictions.
Reported from crypto.news.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
