Is South Korea becoming crypto’s main character

In today’s episode of The Crypto FOMO Games: South Korea.

Here’s what they’ve been cooking lately (and why you should care):

1/ Lowering fees

South Korea’s financial watchdog (the FSC) is reportedly gonna investigate how much local crypto exchanges are charging in transaction fees – and whether it’s too much.

If needed, they might step in to regulate it.

This lines up with what South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae-myung, promised: to reduce crypto trading fees from 0.05% to 0.015%.

👉 And that’s good because: lower fees = more participation = more liquidity.

2/ Spot ETFs on the way

The FSC is also planning to allow local spot crypto ETFs in the second half of the year.

The ETFs were previously banned because regulators considered crypto too risky. That seems to be changing, though.

👉 And that’s good because ETFs let people invest in crypto through TradFi tools – key for attracting bigger investors and institutions.

3/ Stablecoins on the way, too

That same roadmap includes a plan to lift the ban on Korean won-based stablecoins.

👉 And that’s good because it would give users access to a local, government-approved digital currency – the perfect entry point for new users = broader adoption.

Btw, if you’re not South Korean and read this like “don’t care, not my country” 🙄 – DING DONG YOUR OPINION IS WRONG.

South Korea’s one of the biggest crypto markets on the planet. By the end of 2024, people there were holding over $75B in crypto.

And so, when their regulators make changes like this, it’s not just local news – the impact can be felt everywhere.