Expectations are rising that talks on a basic law for digital assets will resume after South Korea’s June 3 local elections, but passage this year remains uncertain. Review depends on finalising the National Assembly’s second-half leadership and restructuring the political affairs committee. The government’s proposal is seen as a key variable and could revive disputes over exchange shareholder limits and won-based stablecoin issuance. Industry and regulators remain divided over priorities.

A sharp rise in lithium prices has helped restore the economics of used battery recycling, lifting margins for processes that extract metals from black mass. The supply structure is also shifting as first-generation electric vehicles begin reaching end-of-life, increasing the share of metals recovered from batteries after use. Regulations in the European Union and incentives under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act are supporting demand by requiring or encouraging recycled content and qualifying recycled minerals for subsidies.