Overview
- Government plans confirm permitting spot digital-asset ETFs, starting with Bitcoin, with operational standards to be issued this year.
- The Financial Services Commission is drafting Phase Two rules for stablecoins that require issuer licensing, minimum capital, 100% reserves, and enforceable redemption rights.
- Regulators are preparing oversight for cross-border stablecoin transfers under a joint framework led by the FSC and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance.
- A policy dispute between the Bank of Korea, which prefers bank-led issuance, and the FSC, which backs licensed fintech issuers, has delayed final legislation.
- Public finance pilots will use bank-backed deposit tokens for EV charger subsidies in the first half of 2026, targeting up to 25% of treasury transactions via blockchain by 2030 with legal amendments under review.