South Korea Lifts Nine-Year Crypto Ban for Corporates in 2026 Market Shift
South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) has dismantled its longstanding prohibition on corporate cryptocurrency investments, effective January 12, 2026. The move marks a strategic pivot in the country’s 2026 Economic Growth Strategy, allowing 3,500 eligible entities—including publicly listed firms and institutional investors—to hold Bitcoin (BTC), ethereum (ETH), and other digital assets on balance sheets.
The reversal ends a nine-year freeze that left domestic institutions sidelined while global competitors built crypto treasuries. Retail traders previously dominated 100% of South Korea’s crypto activity; now, corporations gain regulated access through a phased framework designed to prevent market disruption.
Observers note the policy shift reflects Seoul’s urgency to stem capital outflows and align with global institutional adoption trends. The FSC’s guidelines stop short of a free-for-all, instead creating controlled entry points for compliant firms.