South Korea to Ease Rules Allowing Financial Holding Companies to Acquire Digital Assets

South Korea's Financial Services Commission (FSC) has announced plans to ease regulations, allowing financial holding companies to gradually acquire digital assets.

The FSC revealed the news in its "2025 Key Work Promotion Plan," shared on Jan. 8, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency. This initiative, developed in consultation with the Virtual Asset Committee, is set to begin with non-profit organizations in the first half of the year, eventually expanding to corporate entities, including universities and local governments.

The proposed regulatory changes aim to empower financial holding companies to actively engage with cryptocurrencies, enabling more efficient management and liquidation of digital assets. This move reflects South Korea's broader efforts to integrate digital assets into its financial ecosystem.

“We need to discuss how to create listing standards, what to do with stablecoins, and how to create rules of conduct for virtual asset exchanges,” Director Kwon Dae-young said. “We will work to align with global regulations in the virtual asset market.”

Fintech Boost

The FSC also proposed measures to enhance collaboration between financial holding companies and fintech firms.

Under current regulations, financial holding companies are restricted to owning no more than 5% of stocks in companies outside their subsidiaries. To enhance the system, the FSC plans to increase the ownership cap to 15% for financial holding companies investing in fintech companies, Yonhap explained.

The FSC’s announcement comes amid growing cryptocurrency adoption in South Korea. Most recently, South Korea’s Jeju Island revealed it’s issuing NFT-based tourism cards aimed at attracting young tourists.