2026-01-12 13:24:09

South Korea's recent series of crypto policy measures have completely shattered market expectations. This is not minor patchwork but a genuine signal that the industry landscape is shifting from retail dominance to institutional-led era.

The most direct change is the official lifting of the corporate ban. The gates that have been frozen for nine years are finally opening, allowing listed companies and institutional investors to enter officially. However, Korean regulators have not completely let go—they set up a "safety fence," restricting investment scope to the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market cap, with annual investments not exceeding 5% of the company's equity. This strategy of both easing and controlling is aimed at attracting large capital while avoiding risks.

Changes in tax policy are equally intriguing. The 22% capital gains tax originally scheduled for 2027 is highly likely to be postponed for the fourth time due to technical issues. Behind this delay is the government’s effort to safeguard institutional entry.

More importantly, the Korean government has for the first time included "introducing digital asset spot ETFs" into the 2026 national economic growth plan. This means that the launch of products like Bitcoin ETFs is no longer a spontaneous market action but has been elevated to a national strategic level. It clearly aims to catch up with the US and Hong Kong markets, paving the way for traditional financial giants to access the crypto market.

The stance on stablecoins also reflects this—requiring 100% reserve backing. This is a lesson learned from the painful Luna crash. After that crisis, Korea chose not to shut down the market but to adopt a "loose rather than tight" approach—activating market vitality while imposing necessary reins.

In essence, this marks a profound shift from an era of speculation to one of institutional strategic play. Traditional financial giants have officially entered the crypto jungle, and future rules of the game will be more transparent, participants more aggressive, and market volatility more intense. The world is being reshaped, and a new way of playing has already begun.

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DisillusiionOracle

· 16h ago

The 9-year lock-up has finally been lifted, but the 5% restriction is still quite harsh haha Institutions are here, and the good days for retail investors are coming to an end 延期第四次？Is the Korean government laying out a red carpet for the big players? Luna hasn't been gone for long, and now they want 100% reserves. Having learned from a previous loss, they are now smarter ETF written into national policy documents? This is no longer just market hype; the official authorities are really getting involved Talking about transparency systems, I think it's just the official opening of the big fish eating the small fish Will the volatility be more intense? The efficiency of cutting leeks will also double at that time

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TaxEvader

· 16h ago

Once the 9-year ban is lifted, institutions will flock in, retail investors are still dreaming This time, the game is about to change, the amount of funds is different The Luna pit was dug too deep, the 100% reserve fund move is still somewhat interesting I've seen it early on, traditional finance will come to buy the dip sooner or later, and now it's finally happening The fourth delay of tax extension, the government is paving the way for institutions The top 20 market cap restrictions are a bit tight, even going all-in is no longer possible Now it's an institutional game, retail investors are still playing "I watch the US stock market"

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DegenWhisperer

· 17h ago

Damn, Korea is really serious this time. After the 9-year ban was lifted, retail investors' good days are probably over. Institutional entry is just institutional entry. The 5% limit on the top 20 cryptocurrencies is really playing chess, fearing that Korean retail investors might create another Luna. The Tax has been postponed four times, which is truly outrageous. Honestly, it's just waiting for big money to settle down before proceeding. Including ETFs in national policy documents feels like laying out the red carpet for traditional finance. Are we about to be harvested? That Luna blow really hurt. The 100% reserve requirement is at least a lesson learned.

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GasFeeCrier

· 17h ago

With the end of the 9-year ban, the era of institutional entry has truly arrived, retail investors are in trouble. This is no longer our game; big capital is here to cut our leeks. Luna hasn't forgotten, and now they want to trust stablecoins again, hilarious. Is ETF written into national policy? Korea is really getting desperate, falling behind the US and Hong Kong. Restrictions on the top 20 coins, with an annual investment limit of 5%... these reins are quite tight. The fourth extension of the tax deferral? Fine, it's just paving the red carpet for big investors. The era of institutions has arrived, and volatility will also increase. This is the real beginning of the gambling game.

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JustHereForAirdrops

· 17h ago

Oh wow, after 9 years, finally unlocked? Now institutions are about to eat into retail investors' profits. Tax延期第四次？Korea really treats us like fools. The Luna incident isn't over yet, and now they want 100% reserves... Isn't that standard too high? ETF written into national policy documents, politely called a strategy, harshly a prelude to cutting leeks. Restrictions on the top 20 cryptocurrencies, afraid retail investors will make money, right? This shift, frankly, means institutions are coming in, and retail investors have to step aside. Era of institutional game theory? Sounds impressive, but I just want to ask—do my altcoins still have a future? Rules are transparent as hell, but isn't it always the big players who win?

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ValidatorViking

· 17h ago

honestly korea's just copy-pasting the playbook now... but that 5% cap though? that's the real tell—they're not actually confident in this thing yet, just testing network resilience before the real money floods in.

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