Tag Archives: south korea

South Korean lawmaker Kim Nam-kook sentenced to prison for concealing $7.5M in cryptocurrency, sparking calls for stricter regulation. A South Korean congressman has been sentenced to six months in prison for concealing his crypto holdings. Former Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-kook hid assets worth 9.9 billion won ($6.8 million) and 990 million won ($680,000) between 2021 and 2022. This was a breach of the law that bars public officials from holding any property without declaring it to...

South Korean investigators revealed that the 2019 Upbit cryptocurrency heist, which resulted in the theft of $50 million worth of ETH, was carried out by North Korean hacking groups Lazarus and Andariel, linked to the Reconnaissance General Bureau, which happens to be DPRK’s premiere intelligence organization. Upbit, one of South Korea’s leading crypto exchanges, first reported the attack exactly five years ago. During the incident, 342,000 ETH, worth around $147 per ether,...

According to a new report by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), South Korea’s cryptocurrency investor base has surged to 7.78 million. This figure marks a 21% increase from the previous year. The “Virtual Asset Business Survey” shows domestic crypto investors increased by 1.33 million compared to the second half of 2023, driven largely by an explosive growth in Bitcoin’s value. Investor Profile and Market Behavior This growth coincides with a 67% increase in the average...

South Korea’s Ministry of Strategy and Finance announced on October 8 that it is reviewing measures to regulate stablecoins more strictly. This decision comes amidst increasing criticism that stablecoins are emerging as a hidden threat in the foreign exchange landscape due to inadequate government oversight. Rising Cross-Border Use and Industry Criticism According to local media reports, the Ministry highlighted that stablecoins are primarily used for transactions and...

A lengthy court battle to extradite a disgraced crypto mogul, Do Kwon, has seemingly come to a close following a court ruling Thursday. The Appellate Court of Montenegro ruled that Kwon – founder of the defunct Terra blockchain – will be sent to South Korea for prosecution. Do Kwon Set For South Korea The latest ruling re-confirms a prior decision from a lower court, the High Court of Podgorica, to sent Kwon back to his home country rather than the United States, which also...

The Bitcoin kimchi premium in South Korea has plummeted significantly amid a broader market decline, signifying weakened enthusiasm among digital asset investors in the country. According to data from CryptoQuant, the Bitcoin kimchi premium slumped to 1.5% on Friday during the afternoon trading session in Asia. Bitcoin Kimchi Premium Slumps For the uninitiated, the kimchi premium is an indicator of the difference between Bitcoin’s valuation on South Korean exchanges and...

CoinspeakerSouth Korea Issues Warning to Citizens: Declare Overseas Crypto Holdings or Face Prosecution The warning stated that June 30 had been earmarked for reporting overseas financial holdings. South Korea Issues Warning to Citizens: Declare Overseas Crypto Holdings or Face Prosecution

Upbit, a cryptocurrency platform based in South Korea, is responsible for over 80% of the country’s trading activity and has become among the world’s leading five exchanges in terms of trading volume. According to a Bloomberg report, Upbit’s customers were responsible for nearly a fifth of the total deposits from its major banking partners last year. Upbit’s Dominance Sparks Concerns Upbit’s dominance has drawn criticism and concerns, particularly as South Korea moves to...

The Korean crypto markets have recently experienced a surge in trade volume, reaching heights not seen in over two years. According to a report from Kaiko, the first quarter of 2024 marked an important milestone as the South Korean Won (KRW) surpassed the U.S. Dollar (USD) in terms of cumulative trade volume. Competition and Shifting Dynamics This surge in trading activity comes amid fierce competition among Korean exchanges and shifting market dynamics. Upbit, a major player...

Bithumb Korea’s fiscal performance for the year 2023 took a significant hit as it remained unfazed by the improvement in the trading volume that the platform witnessed throughout the year. With a more than 57% decline in annual revenue, dropping from 3.201 billion Korean won in 2022 to 1.358 billion won in 2023, Bithumb’s disappointing figures can be attributed to several factors, including a controversial trading policy to woo retail traders. According to a report by the...