South Korea's Crypto Exchanges Hit with Heavy Fines
- FIU imposes large penalties on South Korea’s major exchanges.
- Upbit faces a $24.3 million fine, among others.
- Regulations impact BTC, ETH trading due to liquidity restrictions.
South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit has fined major crypto exchanges such as Dunamu, Korbit, GOPAX, Bithumb, and Coinone after anti-money laundering inspections revealed compliance failures.
These penalties highlight increased regulatory scrutiny, potentially affecting market liquidity and investor confidence in South Korea’s cryptocurrency landscape.
Heavy penalties have been imposed on South Korean crypto exchanges by the Financial Intelligence Unit following rigorous AML and KYC inspections. This action targets major platforms like Upbit, Bithumb, and Korbit to enforce compliance, signaling increased regulatory intensity.
Dunamu, the operator of Upbit, was fined 35.2 billion KRW and is now facing a temporary three-month ban on new customer deposits and withdrawals. This measure is part of broader sanctions expected for additional exchanges by 2026 to enhance transparency.
South Korea’s regulatory approach aims to fortify its anti-money laundering infrastructure. The official FIU statement emphasizes, “Major penalties, institutional sanctions, and fines are being imposed sequentially after on-site AML inspections of the largest domestic exchanges.” Future inspections may further tighten control over digital asset exchanges, impacting market dynamics.
Historical data indicates similar enforcement efforts in 2021 and 2022, emphasizing compliance. The FIU’s recent actions underline the country’s determination to ensure sound regulatory practices, influencing both domestic and international crypto landscapes.
