South Korea’s financial authorities are stepping up checks on the “separation of finance and virtual assets” principle as ties between securities firms and digital asset exchanges broaden from equity investments to service partnerships and acquisitions. The Korea Financial Investment Association sent guidance to brokerages at the request of the Financial Supervisory Service, warning services could be limited if they violate the principle or amount to outsourcing. Deal structures, platform links and customer data use remain key areas without clear detailed criteria.

South Korea\'s won-based digital asset exchanges are bringing in financial companies as new shareholders to bolster their business foundations, drawing attention to whether the market led by Upbit and Bithumb could shift. CoinGecko data put Upbit’s 24-hour volume share at 72.1 percent and Bithumb’s at 22.3 percent. Trading activity has declined, while Coinone, Korbit and Gopax move to expand capital and business ties with financial groups.