FSC Accelerates Digital Asset Rulebook in South Korea

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) of South Korea has announced that it will accelerate discussions on the country's long-delayed rulebook for digital assets. According to a report, the FSC aims to bring a formal bill before lawmakers in the coming months, specifically targeting an introduction this fall.

The Digital Asset Basic Act is intended to establish rules on stablecoin issuance, VASP (virtual asset service provider) licensing, and bitcoin ETFs. The bill will also cover other market matters, including disclosures, investor protection, and internal controls for token issuers and exchanges.

South Korea's retail crypto market has grown significantly, with 11.13 million accounts eligible to trade virtual assets and average daily trading volume of KRW 5.4 trillion in the second half of 2025. The proposed law aims to provide a clearer regulatory framework for the industry, although key provisions have not yet been finalized.

Industry participants have argued that continued delay pushes local projects and stablecoin issuers toward jurisdictions with clearer rules. Analysts tracking the Korea crypto bill 2026 timeline note that a fall introduction does not guarantee fast passage, as disputes remain unresolved around ownership caps for major exchanges and whether won-denominated stablecoin issuers must be majority bank-owned.