Digital Assets

Custody & Infrastructure

Korea FSS Extends Probe into Bithumb Error Payment Incident

By Manesh Samtani | 20/02/2026

Regulators have extended their inspection of Bithumb and expanded the team looking into the firm's $40 billion erroneous payment incident.

Cryptocurrency

SFC Issues First Virtual Assets Licence in Almost Eight Months

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 17/02/2026

Victory Fintech and VDX Custody secure licences for trading and custody, with the group

Market Abuse

Korea Deploying AI and Nvidia GPUs to Combat Crypto Manipulation

By Manesh Samtani | 17/02/2026

The FSS is upgrading its VISTA surveillance platform in response to a surge in suspicious transactions and illegal cross-border remittances.

Cryptocurrency

Korea: Mirae Asset Group to Acquire Cryptocurrency Exchange Korbit

By Manesh Samtani | 17/02/2026

The $93mn deal marks the first time a traditional financial institution in South Korea will have a crypto exchange as a subsidiary.

Cryptocurrency

Korea to Impose Bank-Grade Controls on Crypto Exchanges After Bithumb Error

By Mark Johnston | 17/02/2026

A USD 40 billion Bitcoin misallocation at Bithumb has triggered a regulatory overhaul, with authorities now demanding compliance on par with traditional banks.

Trading & Investment

Korea Grants Preliminary Approvals to Fractional Investment Exchanges

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 17/02/2026

The FSC approved applications to operate OTC platforms for beneficiary certificates from the KDX consortium and the NXT Consortium.

Tokenisation

HKMA Details Strategy to Scale Digital Bond Market

By Manesh Samtani | 16/02/2026

The HKMA has outlined a four-pronged strategy for tokenised bonds, highlighting a legal review and policy incentives to drive adoption.

Stablecoins

Japan FSA Gives Backing to Blockchain Securities PoC

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 16/02/2026

Nomura, Daiwa, and three megabanks will test settling stock and bond trades using blockchain and a jointly-issued stablecoin.

Anti-Money Laundering

FATF Sets Sights on Global Fraud and Crypto Risks

By Manesh Samtani | 14/02/2026

The FATF added Papua New Guinea and Kuwait to its grey list, adopted Singapore's mutual evaluation, and approved new reports on cyber-enabled fraud and virtual assets.