South Korea Now Requires Crypto Exchanges to Have Insurance

As a seasoned researcher with a keen interest in the dynamic world of cryptocurrencies and their regulatory landscape, I find myself increasingly impressed by South Korea’s proactive approach to fostering a secure and transparent digital asset market. The recent move by the government to require crypto exchanges to secure insurance for user assets is a significant step towards building trust among investors and enhancing the credibility of the industry.


It appears that the South Korean government is enforcing new rules, under which local cryptocurrency exchanges must obtain insurance to safeguard their users’ funds in case of bankruptcy or unexpected events like liquidity issues.

In response to the Virtual Asset User Protection Act, which became law in July, the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) has introduced a new regulation aimed at clarifying the usage and provision of cryptocurrencies and associated services within the country.

Houbi Korea is Looking to Buy Insurance

Under the Virtual Asset User Protection Act, designed to boost investor safety and prevent deceptive trade activities, the Financial Services Sector (FSS) intends to safeguard cryptocurrency investors by providing full protection in the unlikely event of incidents that might cause an exchange to shut down.

As a crypto investor, I’m mindful of the latest measures taken to secure our assets stored in exchanges. These new insurance requirements are put in place to shield our assets from potential losses due to bankruptcy or financial turmoil experienced by the exchange. This added layer of protection aims to minimize risks related to possible cybersecurity breaches or hacking incidents, giving us peace of mind about the safety of our investments.

Under the updated policy guidelines, troubled cryptocurrency firms such as GDAC and Hanbitco are said to have taken steps to secure user funds by purchasing insurance policies for their assets.

It’s being reported that Huobi Korea, a local affiliate of the company led by Justin Sun, is considering purchasing insurance to safeguard investor funds. This means that the assets of investors would be secure, even if the platform were to close down in the future.

A Stringent Punishment for Non-compliance

These transactions are now governed by the recently enacted Virtual Asset User Safety Act. This legislation mandates that digital asset service providers maintain at least 80% of customer deposits in offline, or “cold,” wallets, distinct from their own resources.

As an analyst, I would advise that we should partner with a locally-licensed bank to safeguard our users’ cash deposits. Additionally, it is crucial that we hold cryptocurrency reserves matching the quantity and types of user deposits.

As a compliance analyst, I’m tasked with ensuring not only the security of user funds but also implementing real-time monitoring mechanisms to flag any potentially illicit trading activities that might arise on our platform. It’s crucial for us to promptly detect and report such suspicious activities in accordance with the law.

As stated in the announcement, not following these rules could lead to potential fines. Furthermore, it’s important to note that the Financial Services Commission (FSC), being the main financial regulatory body of the country, has the authority to temporarily halt services on these exchanges if necessary.

Korean Won Beats the US dollar

While existing legislation primarily deals with the dissemination of digital assets, it’s important to note that as per Kim Hyoung-joong, the President of the South Korea Fintech Society, there are currently no laws in place regulating the creation of cryptocurrencies within the country.

“Regarding the protection of virtual asset users, laws currently exist for regulation in distribution. Yet, as of now, there’s no legislation enacted to govern the issuance of these virtual assets,” he pointed out.

In the Asian region, South Korea remains one of the leading countries embracing cryptocurrencies. Its digital asset market flourishes, with the Korean won becoming the preferred fiat currency over the US dollar for crypto trading as early as Q1 2024.

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2024-08-13 17:28