Catenaa, Thursday, June 26, 2025-Eight of South Korea’s largest banks have joined forces to create a won-pegged stablecoin, marking the nation’s first commercial bank-led initiative in digital assets. The consortium includes KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Woori, Nonghyup, Industrial Bank of Korea, Suhyup, Citibank Korea and SC First Bank. Announced Wednesday, the initiative is backed by the […]

Catenaa, Sunday, June 01, 2025-The Bank of Korea is weighing a plan to connect central bank-issued deposit tokens with public blockchain networks, signaling a major policy shift in its approach to digital currency innovation and financial sovereignty. Deputy Governor Lee Jong-ryeol announced the proposal Tuesday at the Blockchain Leaders Club event in Seoul, calling the […]

Catenaa, Sunday, April 06, 2025-South Korean crypto exchange Bithumb reported a $110 million net profit for 2024, marking a five-fold increase from the previous year. The surge comes amid a strong crypto market and growing institutional adoption in the U.S.  According to local media reports, Bithumb’s sales nearly tripled as bitcoin prices soared. The profit […]

Catenaa, Saturday, March 08, 2025-South Korean regulators’ sanctions against Upbit, the country’s leading crypto exchange, have drawn strong criticism for being ineffective. The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) issued a three-month business suspension to Dunamu, the operator of Upbit, following revelations that the exchange facilitated nearly 45,000 virtual asset transfer transactions with 19 unreported, overseas-based operators.  […]

Catenaa, Tuesday, April 08, 2025-Dunamu, the parent company of South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Upbit has announced a threefold increase in dividends for common shareholders following a sharp rise in its annual profits. During the company’s annual shareholder meeting on Friday, it was revealed that Dunamu would distribute a dividend of 8,777 Korean won ($5.99) […]

Catenaa, Wednesday, July 09, 2025- The European Union (EU) said it was working on sealing a trade deal with the US by the end of the month, as Trump seeks to deliver further tariff notices on unnamed countries on Wednesday. Trump broadened out a trade war that has cast a shadow over the global economic […]

Catenaa, Tuesday, Mach 25, 2025-Hyundai Motor Group revealed a $21 billion investment in the US alongside President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, marking a significant expansion of its American manufacturing presence. The investment includes a $5.8 billion Hyundai Steel plant in Louisiana, projected to produce 2.7 million metric tons of steel annually […]

Catenaa, Tuesday, July 01, 2025-South Korean equity markets soared this week after newly elected President Lee Jae-myung pledged strong support for won-backed stablecoins, triggering investor euphoria across crypto-linked stocks. The Kospi index surged nearly 30 percent year-to-date, marking its best performance in four years and positioning it as Asia’s top-performing market for the first half […]

Catenaa, Monday, May 19, 2025-South Korean scientists have developed a breakthrough supercapacitor that could drastically reduce charging times for consumer devices, potentially replacing traditional batteries in smartphones and electric vehicles. Researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) created a composite supercapacitor using single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) combined with a conductive polymer called […]

Catenaa Tuesday, February 18, 2025- A new survey reveals that 25% of South Koreans now own cryptocurrency, with many investors seeking short-term profits. The survey, conducted by Hashed Open Research, surveyed 2,000 individuals aged 20 to 69. Of those, 507 people (25%) reported they are currently investing in crypto. The survey also found that interest […]

Catenaa, Saturday, June 14, 2025- South Korea’s National Assembly is poised to approve legislation that would legalize tokenized securities, enabling domestic companies to issue blockchain-based tokens tied to assets like real estate, raw materials, livestock, and copyrighted works. Two bills proposing the formal regulation of security token offerings (STOs) are currently before the National Assembly’s […]

Catenaa, Wednesday, January 29, 2025 – South Korean prosecutors will formally establish a dedicated crypto crime unit aimed at tackling digital asset fraud, market manipulation, and other illicit activities, according to local reports.  The Joint Investigation Unit (JIU) for Virtual Asset Crimes, currently operating as a temporary task force, will be officially upgraded to a […]

Catenaa, Friday, May 09, 2025-South Korea ruling People Power Party has pledged to legalize spot crypto exchange-traded fund trading and broaden banking access for crypto exchanges by year’s end, marking a high-stakes play for digital asset voters ahead of the June 3 presidential election. The conservative party outlined seven crypto-focused initiatives during a meeting last […]

Catenaa, Monday, March 17, 2025-The Bank of Korea (BOK) confirmed Sunday it has no plans to include bitcoin in its foreign exchange reserves, citing volatility and International Monetary Fund (IMF) guidelines.  Responding to a National Assembly inquiry, the central bank said bitcoin’s price fluctuations could lead to high transaction costs when converting it into cash. […]

Catenaa, Saturday, May 17, 2025- South Korea plans to deregulate cryptocurrency exchanges could significantly impact the nation’s banking industry, particularly for K Bank, which has strong ties to the exchange market leader Upbit. Reports from the Financial Post suggest that the Democratic Party (DP), South Korea’s largest political party, is considering scrapping the current fiat […]

Catenaa, Wednesday, July 02, 2025- South Korea lifted a 14-year ban on domestic financial institutions investing in kimchi bonds, signaling a major shift to attract foreign capital and stabilize the Korean won amid economic headwinds. The Bank of Korea had imposed the ban in 2011 to avoid currency mismatches among local issuers but reversed course […]

Catenaa, Wednesday, July 02, 2025- South Korea’s central bank has paused its central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot, citing the need for reassessment as President Lee Jae-myung pushes for broader stablecoin adoption. The Bank of Korea informed participating banks that discussions for the next phase of the pilot would be temporarily suspended, halting momentum built […]

Catenaa, Wednesday, March 19, 2025- South Korea’s central bank will begin a large-scale pilot of its central bank digital currency (CBDC) project, named “Hangang,” in April, testing digital payments with 100,000 citizens and seven major banks.  The Bank of Korea (BOK) announced the three-month trial, running through June, to evaluate whether tokenized deposits can streamline […]

Catenaa, Sunday, March 02, 2025-South Korea prosecution service has officially launched a specialized unit to combat crypto-related crime, including scams and fraud, amid rising concerns over digital asset fraud. The Joint Investigation Unit (JIU) for Virtual Asset Crimes, which had operated temporarily since 2023, is now formalized and will function with greater independence. The unit, […]

Catenaa, Saturday, March 08, 2025-South Korea regulators may move closer to approving Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) if Japan gives the green light to similar investment products, according to a new report.  The Financial Services Commission (FSC) and the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) have been closely monitoring Japan’s approach to Bitcoin ETFs, Maeil Kyungjae reported Tuesday. […]

Catenaa, Sunday, April 13, 2025-South Korea Financial Services Commission (FSC) is exploring a policy shift that could allow foreign investors to access the country’s Crypto market, provided local exchanges meet stringent anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. Kim Sung-jin, head of the FSC’s virtual asset division, expressed support for permitting overseas participation in South Korea’s crypto ecosystem […]

Catenaa, Friday, January 10, 2024- The Korea Exchange (KOSDAQ) is considering approving crypto spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in 2025, its chairman, Jeong Eun-bo, announced at the 2025 Securities and Derivatives Market Opening Ceremony. The move aims to revitalize South Korea’s financial markets after political turmoil dampened investor confidence.  Jeong emphasized benchmarking global cases to introduce […]

Catenaa, Monday, June 23, 2025-South Korea top financial regulator has submitted a detailed plan to approve spot cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs), signaling a possible end to the nation’s long-standing ban on such products by late 2025. According to Yonhap News Agency, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) presented the roadmap to the Presidential Committee on Policy […]

Catenaa, Saturday, February 15, 2025 – South Korea financial regulator will roll out a phased plan allowing corporations to trade cryptocurrencies, marking a significant regulatory shift aimed at balancing innovation with financial safeguards.  The Financial Services Commission (FSC) announced the initiative following a Virtual Asset Committee meeting Wednesday, detailing a gradual integration of businesses into […]

Catenaa, Friday, May 23, 2025- South Korea and the European Union have agreed to strengthen cyber cooperation, specifically targeting cryptocurrency theft attributed to North Korean hacking groups, officials announced Tuesday. The decision follows a high-level policy dialogue held in Seoul, where both sides identified Pyongyang’s illicit cyber activities as a growing threat to global financial […]

Catenaa, Saturday, February 22, 2025 – South Korean banks are ramping up efforts to strike partnerships with the nation’s top cryptocurrency exchanges as regulators prepare to allow firms to invest in digital assets, a move expected to fuel significant market growth. According to local media reports, banks are closely monitoring Upbit, South Korea’s largest crypto […]

Catenaa, Wednesday, February 05, 2025 – The CEO of a prominent South Korean peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform is facing accusations of embezzlement after allegedly using client funds for personal cryptocurrency investments. The accusations come from an investor who backed a real estate project with the CEO in 2018. According to reports from NBN Media, the […]

Catenaa, Saturday, April 26, 2025-South Koreans are holding a record $73.4 billion in cryptocurrency, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). The total crypto market capitalization on domestic exchanges surpassed 100 trillion won ($73.4 billion) in December 2024, marking a significant increase from the $41 billion held just two months earlier. The surge came in […]

Catenaa, Thursday, June 12, 2025- President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the letters will be sent to the trading partners in the next week or two, setting unilateral tariff rates. “At a certain point, we’re just going to send letters out. And I think you understand that, saying this is the deal, you can […]

Catenaa, June 29, 2025- A majority of South Korean adults plan to increase their cryptocurrency investments, as President Lee Jae Myung’s administration pushes ahead with a regulatory framework to legalize won-based stablecoins. A survey by the Hana Financial Research Institute found that 70% of respondents aged 20 to 59 expect to buy more crypto in […]

Catenaa, Sunday, June 15, 2025-South Korean NGO World Vision Korea became the first institution to sell cryptocurrency following the government’s phased lifting of a ban on institutional crypto trading. Under new rules from South Korea’s Financial Services Commission, non-profit organizations can now sell cryptocurrencies received as donations. Last week World Vision Korea sold 0.55 Ethereum, […]