Key Points
- OKX Ventures has committed $53 million to acquire a 19.6% ownership position in Coinone, a South Korean digital asset exchange
- Korea Investment & Securities (KIS) has agreed to an equivalent $53 million commitment for an identical ownership stake
- The dual transaction totals 160 billion Korean won (approximately $106 million) and awaits regulatory clearance
- Coinone’s chief executive Cha Myunghun will retain the largest individual shareholding at 27.8% and maintain operational control
- This investment follows Samsung’s $408 million commitment to Dunamu (Upbit’s parent entity) and Mirae Asset’s acquisition of a 92% position in Korbit
The investment division of international cryptocurrency platform OKX has finalized an agreement to purchase a 19.6% ownership interest in South Korean digital asset exchange Coinone for 80 billion Korean won, equivalent to approximately $53 million.
Korea Investment & Securities, among South Korea’s premier financial services firms, has committed to a parallel investment arrangement. Following regulatory clearance and deal completion, both entities will assume positions as joint third-largest stakeholders in Coinone.
The aggregate transaction value reaches 160 billion won, translating to roughly $106 million. The investment structure combines acquiring existing shares from current stakeholders and participating in a new share issuance.
Cha Myunghun, serving as Coinone’s chief executive officer, will maintain his position as the platform’s principal individual shareholder controlling a 27.8% equity position. Management authority over company operations will remain with him. Gaming enterprise Com2uS Holdings along with related entities will control 25% ownership.
Strategic Rationale Behind OKX’s Korean Market Entry
South Korea represents one of the planet’s most vibrant retail cryptocurrency markets. OKX global markets vice president Netero Dai characterized the nation’s regulatory environment as “highly respected globally” and described the capital commitment as demonstrating the organization’s confidence in compliance-focused financial systems.
This transaction follows Binance’s previous purchase of South Korean platform Gopax. International cryptocurrency organizations have actively pursued Korean market access as domestic appetite for digital currencies continues at elevated levels.
Coinone holds one of merely five licenses authorizing legal cryptocurrency exchange operations in South Korea. This regulatory status positions it as a compliant gateway for any multinational entity seeking to access Korean retail investors.
Future Plans for Stablecoins and Tokenized Financial Products
Korea Investment & Securities has indicated intentions to collaborate with Coinone on security token initiatives and stablecoin development. This announcement coincides with South Korean authorities crafting comprehensive digital asset legislation known as the Digital Asset Basic Act.
That proposed legislation has encountered implementation setbacks, with the precise enactment schedule remaining uncertain. Nevertheless, prominent financial institutions are proceeding without delay. They are establishing cryptocurrency sector positions in anticipation of eventual formal regulatory frameworks.
OKX Ventures and Coinone have additionally outlined plans for collaborative initiatives focused on customer protection protocols, security infrastructure, and risk oversight strategies.
The Coinone transaction represents one component of a larger institutional capital influx into Korean cryptocurrency platforms. Earlier this week, three Samsung affiliate companies revealed a $408 million investment in Dunamu, Upbit’s parent organization and South Korea’s dominant crypto exchange operator, securing a combined 4% ownership stake.
Mirae Asset, overseeing more than $665 billion in managed assets, disclosed in February its intention to obtain a 92% controlling interest in Korbit. Leading banking institutions including KB Kookmin and Shinhan have established collaborative arrangements with blockchain networks such as Solana and Avalanche for experimental payment infrastructure utilizing stablecoins and tokenized deposit instruments.
OKX officially announced the transaction on May 29, 2026. The confirmation validates earlier reporting from Yonhap News indicating that OKX and KIS were evaluating potential acquisitions of approximately 20% ownership positions in Coinone.
The deal remains subject to regulatory authorization before reaching final completion.
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