South Korea Unveils Blockchain Agenda with Tokenized Bonds and Crypto ETFs

The South Korean government has unveiled its economic priorities for the second half of 2026. The Ministry of Finance and Economy presented initiatives at a State Council meeting on July 13, focusing on blockchain and digital assets.

The plans include new legislation, a pilot to tokenize government bonds, and measures to open the market to spot cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for the first time. The Digital Asset Basic Act will be pushed for enactment before the end of 2026, creating a legal framework for digital assets in South Korea.

The bill covers business conduct standards and regulations for Korean won-pegged stablecoins. Cross-border stablecoin transactions will also have a legal basis established, enabling the launch of South Korea's first spot cryptocurrency ETFs.