Korea Tones Down 20% Crypto Exchange Stake Ban as Regulators Seek Governance ‘Middle Ground’

South Korean authorities and the ruling party agree on a 20% ownership ceiling for “major shareholders” in crypto and virtual assets exchanges, with a three‑year implementation delay.

South Korea’s 20% cap is the culmination of a long‑running push by FSC, the top financial regulator, to curb founder control at the country’s biggest crypto exchanges. Regulators initially floated a stricter 15–20% range for major shareholders at the leading platforms, a proposal that sparked outrage and fierce opposition from the industry. The backlash was led by the Digital Asset Exchange Alliance (DAXA), a self‑regulatory body representing South Korea’s five major exchanges, including, of course, Upbit and Bithumb.

The agreement on a 20% cap and a generous grace period looks like an attempt to find middle ground and defuse tensions. The FSC and the ruling party have endorsed a three‑year grace period to enforce the major shareholder stake restriction, giving Upbit and Bithumb, which together command roughly 90% of the domestic market, some breathing room to start trimming their stakes to meet the new threshold.

Smaller exchanges that do not meet the estimated 20% market‑share bar, such as Coinone, Korbit and GOPAX, will get an even longer runway. South Korean authorities have agreed to grant them an additional three‑year grace period, giving these platforms up to six years in total to prepare for full enforcement of the cap.

The FSC has also carved out narrow exceptions via enforcement decree, allowing stakes of up to 34% only for new businesses, not for existing exchanges. According to The Korea Herald, this threshold appears to mirror the Commercial Act’s 33.3% veto line for general shareholders’ meetings, effectively giving qualified new investors blocking power without restoring full control

However, the bill’s passage is far from guaranteed. The Korea Herald notes that not only is the opposition party pushing back, but some lawmakers also object to strict limits on major shareholder stakes, casting doubt over whether the cap will clear the National Assembly in its current form.

Cover image from ChatGPT, BTCUSD chart from Tradingview