Written by Christina Comben , Staff Writer.Reviewed by Bryan O'Shea , Staff Editor.Written by Christina Comben , Staff Writer.Reviewed by Bryan O'Shea , Staff Editor.OKX Ventures, Korea Investment & Securities to buy 19.6% Coinone stake for $106M
Latest NewsPublishedMay 29, 2026OKX Ventures and KIS to invest $53 million each for a 19.6% stake in Coinone, deepening ties between traditional finance and crypto in South Korea’s tightly regulated market.
South Korean crypto exchange Coinone said Korea Investment & Securities (KIS) and OKX Ventures agreed to invest a combined 160 billion won ($106 million) for a 19.6% stake in the platform.
The investment, which remains subject to regulatory approval, would make KIS and OKX Ventures joint third-largest shareholders in Coinone behind CEO Myung-Hun Cha and existing backer Com2uS Holdings, according to a release shared with Cointelegraph.
The transaction combines secondary share purchases from existing holders with newly issued shares, while Cha is expected to remain Coinone’s largest shareholder and retain management control.
The deal would give OKX Ventures exposure to one of Asia’s most tightly regulated crypto markets, where local licenses and compliance records remain critical.
Friday’s announcement confirmed rumors earlier this month that OKX was in talks with KIS to acquire roughly a 20% stake in Coinone as part of a broader push into South Korea’s licensed crypto market, which OKX declined to comment on at the time.
Related: Petition to scrap South Korea's crypto tax reaches 50K threshold
In the release, OKX said the partnership reflects its focus on “compliant, well-regulated infrastructure,” while KIS said it plans to work with Coinone on security token offerings and stablecoin businesses as South Korea advances rules for tokenized finance.
South Korea’s crypto shake-up
The deal comes as South Korea reshapes its crypto sector through tougher oversight and broader institutional participation.
Since the Virtual Asset User Protection Act took effect in 2024, exchanges including Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone and Korbit have faced stricter anti-money laundering and transaction monitoring requirements, while regulators prepare a second phase of legislation covering stablecoins and tokenized securities.
South Korea's Virtual Asset User Protection Act took effect in 2024. Source: Financial Services Commission
Seoul has also moved to gradually open the door to greater institutional and corporate participation in digital assets, creating new opportunities for traditional financial firms to expand into the regulated crypto sector.
In February, Mirae Asset Consulting agreed to acquire a 92.06% stake in Korbit for 133.48 billion won (about $93 million), effectively taking control of the smaller exchange as part of its broader digital asset strategy.
This month, Hana Financial Group said it plans to invest about 1.003 trillion won ($668 million) to acquire a 6.55% stake in Dunamu, operator of Upbit, one of the country’s largest crypto exchanges.
Asia Express: North Korea denies crypto hacks, Upbit’s bank tests Ripple
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.More on the subject
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