South Korea Opens To Corporate Crypto Investment, But Sets 5% Cap

bitcoinistPubblicato 2026-01-12Pubblicato ultima volta 2026-01-12

Introduzione

South Korea's Financial Services Commission (FSC) is set to overturn a nine-year ban by allowing corporations and professional investors to invest in cryptocurrencies. The new guidelines, expected to be finalized by February, impose a 5% cap on corporate investments relative to equity capital and restrict investments to the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market cap. While stablecoins like USDT and USDC are currently in the top 20, their eligibility is still under discussion. The move follows the country's earlier announcement in February 2025 to permit institutional participation. Some industry insiders have raised concerns that the investment cap may hinder capital inflow and limit the growth of crypto-focused firms. Additionally, South Korea is planning to introduce spot crypto ETFs this year and is developing a regulatory framework for stablecoins, though disagreements between the FSC and the Bank of Korea over ownership requirements for issuers have caused delays.

South Korea is reportedly planning to allow corporations to invest in crypto, a move that would see the overturn of a nine-year-old ban.

South Korea Sets Crypto Corporate Investing Limit At 5%

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) has drafted guidelines to allow listed companies and professional investors to trade crypto, according to a report from South Korean media outlet BusinessKorea. The FSC shared the draft with a public-private task force on January 6th, and according to a high-ranking financial industry official, authorities are expected to release the final guidelines between January and February.

Since 2017, corporate and institutional players in South Korea have been under an effective prohibition from trading and investing in digital assets like Bitcoin, with the government citing speculation and money-laundering risks. The country’s stance began to shift in February 2025, when the FSC announced a plan to gradually allow institutional participation in the space. The latest guidelines are a follow-up to this announcement.

South Korea easing up on corporate crypto investments hasn’t come without restrictions, however. Authorities have reportedly set an investment cap of 5% of equity capital, which companies can only deploy into coins inside the top 20 by market cap list. These assets will be determined based on the semi-annual market cap data sourced from the top five domestic digital asset exchanges.

Stablecoins tied to the US Dollar, like USDT and USDC, currently fall inside the top 20 list, but whether they will be included as permitted investment targets is still being discussed.

While South Korea is planning on a 5% investment cap, other countries like the US or Japan have no such limits on corporate investing. One financial industry insider has raised concerns about the restriction, saying that “investment limit restrictions not found overseas could weaken capital inflow factors and prevent the emergence of virtual currency investment specialist companies.”

South Korea has also made other developments related to the crypto industry recently. The East Asian nation is planning to introduce digital asset spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) this year, looking to investment vehicles active in the US and Hong Kong as reference points.

The FSC is also working on the next phase of its digital asset legislation, which could see the establishment of a regulatory framework for stablecoins. As reported by Bitcoinist, the bill has so far been delayed due to a dispute between the FSC and the Bank of Korea (BoK).

The BoK, South Korea’s central bank, has been pushing for banks to own at least a 51% stake in any stablecoin issuer seeking approval in the country. While the FSC agrees that financial institutions should be involved in the issuance of won stablecoins, the regulator has raised concerns that a bank majority requirement could limit market participation and innovation.

Bitcoin Price

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading around $90,600, down 2.5% over the past week.

Looks like the price of the crypto has been moving sideways in recent days | Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView

Domande pertinenti

QWhat is the new investment cap set by South Korea for corporate crypto investments?

ASouth Korea has set an investment cap of 5% of equity capital for corporate crypto investments.

QWhich regulatory body in South Korea drafted the guidelines for corporate crypto investment?

ASouth Korea's Financial Services Commission (FSC) drafted the guidelines for corporate crypto investment.

QWhat type of cryptocurrencies are corporations allowed to invest in under the new guidelines?

ACorporations are only allowed to deploy investments into cryptocurrencies that are inside the top 20 by market cap list.

QWhat is one concern raised by a financial industry insider regarding the 5% investment cap?

AA financial industry insider raised concerns that the investment limit could weaken capital inflow factors and prevent the emergence of virtual currency investment specialist companies.

QWhat other crypto-related financial product is South Korea planning to introduce this year?

ASouth Korea is planning to introduce digital asset spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) this year.

Letture associate

Earnings Beat Expectations, $222 Million Chain Launch: Can Circle Escape the 'Interest Stock' Valuation Narrative?

Circle released its Q1 2026 financial results, with revenue of $6.94 billion missing expectations but adjusted EPS of $0.21 beating forecasts. USDC circulation grew 28% to $770 billion, and on-chain transaction volume surged 263% to $21.5 trillion. The same day, Circle announced it raised $222 million in a token pre-sale for its new Arc blockchain at a $3 billion valuation, led by a16z. It also unveiled Agent Stack, a suite of tools for AI agents to autonomously hold and transact in USDC. CEO Jeremy Allaire stated the company is evolving into a broader internet platform and operating system business. CRCL's stock price rose 16% on the news. Analysts are divided, with some viewing the strategic moves as an effort to shift Circle's valuation narrative away from reliance on USDC interest income and towards being an infrastructure platform and gateway to the AI agent economy. The success of this transition hinges on Arc's adoption and Agent Stack's competitiveness.

marsbit6 min fa

Earnings Beat Expectations, $222 Million Chain Launch: Can Circle Escape the 'Interest Stock' Valuation Narrative?

marsbit6 min fa

While Everyone Says NFTs Are 'Dead', the Art World is Quietly Completing an 'On-Chain Renaissance'

While many declare NFTs "dead" and dismiss them as overhyped JPEGs, a significant institutional shift is quietly underway within the art world, signaling a "on-chain renaissance." Traditional art, a ~$60B market, is stagnant, aging, and highly concentrated, facing a massive $80 trillion generational wealth transfer to digital-native heirs. Contrary to the narrative, leading institutions have been building infrastructure for digital and on-chain art. Major museums like MoMA, the Centre Pompidou, LACMA, and the Guggenheim have acquired seminal NFT works into their permanent collections. Top galleries like Pace, Gagosian, and Hauser & Wirth have launched NFT platforms or accepted crypto, with Pace giving a solo show to generative artist Tyler Hobbs. Auction houses Sotheby's and Christie's operate dedicated on-chain sales platforms. This follows a historical pattern where every major art movement—from Impressionism to Pop Art—was initially mocked before institutional acceptance. NFT art, only 7-12 years old, is progressing faster. Auction data shows resilience, with works by Beeple ($69.3M), Pak (~$91M), and Dmitri Cherniak ($6.2M in a bear market) achieving high prices. A new cohort of collectors (e.g., FlamingoDAO, PleasrDAO) and "Medici" figures like Cozomo de' Medici are accumulating foundational works. The core argument is that NFTs represent not a speculative asset class but a new ownership system for digital culture, solving provenance issues through immutable, timestamped blockchain records. The medium has survived the speculative crash and is being institutionalized. The bet isn't on short-term price rallies but on the long-term cultural significance of on-chain art as the defining medium for the next generation of collectors.

marsbit27 min fa

While Everyone Says NFTs Are 'Dead', the Art World is Quietly Completing an 'On-Chain Renaissance'

marsbit27 min fa

Jensen Huang's Message to Graduates: AI Won't Replace You, But Those Who Excel at Using AI Will

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, addressing 2026 graduates at Carnegie Mellon University, emphasized that AI will not replace people, but those who leverage AI effectively will have an advantage. He delivered this message during a commencement speech where he also received an honorary doctorate, his seventh. Huang reflected on his personal journey as an immigrant, starting from humble beginnings as a dishwasher to co-founding NVIDIA. He shared early struggles, including a near-bankruptcy moment saved by honesty with Sega, highlighting resilience and learning from failure. He positioned the current era as the dawn of the AI revolution, a shift as significant as past computing waves. Huang explained that AI is redefining computing from human-written software to machine learning, creating a new industry focused on manufacturing intelligence. While acknowledging fears about job displacement, he argued that AI amplifies human capabilities rather than replaces human purpose. Tasks may be automated, but the core meaning of professions remains. Huang urged graduates to embrace this transformative time with responsibility and optimism. He stated that AI should democratize technology, bridging gaps and enabling broader participation in creation and problem-solving. His final advice was to actively engage with the opportunity: "So run, don’t walk," and to put their hearts into their work.

marsbit34 min fa

Jensen Huang's Message to Graduates: AI Won't Replace You, But Those Who Excel at Using AI Will

marsbit34 min fa

Three Scenarios for BTC's Future Direction and a Duel Between Two Strong Forces | Special Invited Analysis

**Title: Three Scenarios for BTC's Future Trajectory and a Key Duel | Invited Analysis** The market remains at a critical juncture. Over the past week, Bitcoin (BTC) consolidated broadly between $79,500 and $80,600, validating previous technical analysis. The current focus is on whether this marks the start of a new uptrend or a pause within a larger correction. **BTC Multi-Cycle Analysis & Three Possible Scenarios** BTC's daily chart structure, following its peak at $126,200 in October 2025, presents three primary technical scenarios based on Elliott Wave theory: 1. **Bullish Scenario (End of Correction):** The corrective A-B-C wave from $126,200 ended at the $60,000 low in February 2026. The current price action is the start of a major Wave I uptrend. A subsequent Wave II pullback would not break below $60,000. 2. **Bearish Scenario 1 (Complex Correction):** The correction is unfolding as an A-B-C-D-E pattern. The current move from $60,000 is a D-wave rally. After its completion, a final E-wave decline could potentially breach the $60,000 level. 3. **Bearish Scenario 2 (Larger Correction):** The entire move down from $126,200 to $60,000 was a large A-wave. The current rally is a B-wave correction within a larger A-B-C structure, to be followed by a C-wave decline below $60,000. *Analysis suggests Scenario 2 is less probable due to time disproportions between waves. The battle is effectively between the Bullish Scenario (1) and Bearish Scenario (3).* **Key BTC Levels & Weekly Strategy** On the 4-hour chart, BTC trades above a crucial consolidation zone ("Central Pivot C"). * **Key Resistance:** $83,500-$84,500; $89,000-$90,500. * **Key Support:** $78,500-$79,500 (pivot upper bound); $73,500-$75,000; $69,500-$70,500. **Weekly Outlook:** The market direction hinges on BTC's ability to hold above or break below the $78,500-$79,500 support zone. * **Mid-term Strategy:** Neutral/Wait-and-see stance due to unclear direction. * **Short-term Tactics:** Two contingency plans using 30% max capital: * **Plan A (Bullish):** Look for long entries if price holds above $78,500-$79,500 with confirming signals. Initial stop-loss below $78,500. * **Plan B (Bearish):** Consider short positions if price breaks below $73,500-$75,000 with confirming signals. Initial stop-loss above $76,500. **HYPE Analysis & Strategy** HYPE's daily chart shows a seven-segment structure from its January low of $20.46, forming a "rising pivot" zone. * **Key Level to Watch:** $45.76 (previous high). A break above would confirm the bullish structure remains intact. * **Short-term Strategy:** Focus on pivot zone boundaries ($38.41 upper, $34.44 lower). * **Long:** Consider on support near $38.41 with bullish confirmation signals. * **Short:** Consider on a break below $34.44 with bearish confirmation signals. * Position size must be below 30% with strict stop-loss discipline. **Risk Management Reminder:** Always set an initial stop-loss upon entry. Move stop-loss to breakeven at +1% profit, then trail it upwards to lock in profits dynamically. All views are based on technical analysis for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. The market is inherently risky.

Odaily星球日报43 min fa

Three Scenarios for BTC's Future Direction and a Duel Between Two Strong Forces | Special Invited Analysis

Odaily星球日报43 min fa

Sequoia Interview with Hassabis: Information is the Essence of the Universe, AI Will Open Up Entirely New Scientific Branches

Demis Hassabis, co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind and Nobel laureate, discusses the path to AGI and its profound implications in a Sequoia Capital interview. He outlines his lifelong dedication to AI, tracing his journey from game development (e.g., *Theme Park*)—a perfect AI testing ground—to neuroscience and finally founding DeepMind in 2009. He emphasizes the critical lesson of being "5 years, not 50 years, ahead of time" for successful entrepreneurship. Hassabis reiterates DeepMind's two-step mission: first, solve intelligence by building AGI; second, use AGI to tackle other complex problems. He highlights the transformative potential of "AI for Science," particularly in biology where tools like AlphaFold have revolutionized protein folding. He envisions AI-powered simulations drastically shortening drug discovery from years to weeks and enabling personalized medicine. Furthermore, he predicts AI will spawn new scientific disciplines, such as an engineering science for understanding complex AI systems (mechanistic interpretability) and novel fields enabled by high-fidelity simulators for complex systems like economics. He posits a fundamental worldview where information, not just matter or energy, is the essence of the universe, making AI's information-processing core uniquely suited to understanding reality. He defends classical Turing machines as potentially sufficient for modeling complex phenomena, including quantum systems, as demonstrated by AlphaFold. On consciousness, Hassabis suggests first building AGI as a powerful tool, then using it to explore deep philosophical questions. He believes components like self-awareness and temporal continuity are necessary for consciousness but that defining it fully remains an open challenge. He predicts AGI could arrive around 2030 and, once achieved, would be used to probe the deepest questions of science and reality, much as envisioned in David Deutsch's *The Fabric of Reality*.

链捕手1 h fa

Sequoia Interview with Hassabis: Information is the Essence of the Universe, AI Will Open Up Entirely New Scientific Branches

链捕手1 h fa

Trading

Spot

Futures