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South Korean financial authorities are escalating their efforts to regulate the domestic cryptocurrency market by targeting overseas virtual asset exchanges that operate without proper registration. According to a local report, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), under the Financial Services Commission, is preparing sanctions, including potential site access blocking, against several prominent international exchanges that have been servicing Korean users illegally. This move underscores South Korea’s commitment to enforcing the Specific Financial Information Act (Special Financial Information Act), which mandates that all virtual asset service providers (VASPs) operating within the country must register with the FIU. This legislation aims to protect Korean investors and prevent illicit financial activities within the digital asset space. The FIU is reported to have identified several exchanges, including Bitmex, Kucoin, Coinw, Bitunix, and KCEX, as targets for these sanctions. These platforms have reportedly been operating Korean-language websites, actively marketing to Korean investors, and providing customer support in Korean, all without the required registration. “These exchanges are clearly targeting Korean users, offering localized services without complying with our regulations. This poses a significant risk to our investors and undermines the integrity of our financial system,” stated an unnamed FIU official. In 2022, the FIU took similar action, requesting the Korea Communications Standards Commission to block access to 16 unregistered overseas exchanges. This initiative, coupled with cooperation from domestic card companies to restrict credit card transactions with these exchanges, led to the withdrawal of several platforms from the Korean market. 免责声明：本文章仅代表作者个人观点，不代表本平台的立场和观点。本文章仅供信息分享，不构成对任何人的任何投资建议。用户与作者之间的任何争议，与本平台无关。如网页中刊载的文章或图片涉及侵权，请提供相关的权利证明和身份证明发送邮件到support@aicoin.com，本平台相关工作人员将会进行核查。

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has lifted sanctions against Tornado Cash, a decentralized cryptocurrency mixer, effectively legalizing its use for American citizens. This move reverses the August 2022 sanctions imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, which had accused the platform of facilitating money laundering activities, including transactions linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group . Tornado Cash, launched in 2019, is an Ethereum-based protocol that enhances transaction privacy by allowing users to obfuscate the origins and destinations of their cryptocurrency transfers. While this service caters to individuals seeking financial privacy, it has also been exploited by malicious actors to launder illicit funds. The Treasury Department had alleged that Tornado Cash was used to launder over $7 billion in virtual currency, including $455 million stolen by the Lazarus Group. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent commented on the decision, stating, “Digital assets present enormous opportunities for innovation and value creation for the American people. Securing the digital asset industry from abuse by North Korea and other illicit actors is essential to establishing U.S. leadership and ensuring that the American people can benefit from financial innovation and inclusion.” Critics argued that sanctioning open-source software infringed upon free speech and technological innovation. In response, a group of Tornado Cash users, supported by cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, filed a lawsuit challenging the sanctions. In November 2024, a federal appeals court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, stating that the Treasury had overstepped its authority. The court emphasized that Tornado Cash’s immutable smart contracts did not qualify as “property” under federal law, thereby falling outside the scope of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Judge Don Willett noted that while the technology could be misused , it was the role of Congress, not the courts, to amend relevant laws.

South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIU) is significantly increasing its enforcement on cryptocurrency exchanges, both within the country and operating internationally. With regulatory compliance under intense scrutiny, the FIU has initiated actions against multiple trading platforms, signaling a clear and strict stance against crypto-related service providers. The FIU is also taking decisive measures against unregistered overseas exchanges, including prominent names like BitMEX and CoinW, citing violations of South Korea’s Specific Financial Transaction Information Reporting and Use Act. Authorities plan to block access to these non-compliant platforms for Korean users, a move aimed at curbing unregulated cryptocurrency trading. Reports indicate that another overseas exchange was also targeted in this action. This development has triggered concerns among market participants, who fear restricted access to widely used trading platforms. So far, the affected exchanges have not released official statements addressing the FIU’s actions. “This action reflects a growing trend among governments to enforce stricter regulations on crypto exchanges operating within their jurisdictions,” said crypto analyst Alan Brown. Related: Bitcoin Not Suitable for Reserves, Says South Korea’s Central Bank Upbit, one of South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has also faced regulatory headwinds. The FIU reportedly issued a suspension notice against Upbit in January over alleged Know Your Customer (KYC) violations. Dunamu, the exchange’s partner firm which operates Upbit’s South Korean business, also received a three-month suspension notice in late February due to a “violation of the obligation to prohibit transactions with unreported virtual asset operators.” In a separate, high-profile development , South Korean prosecutors raided the offices of Bithumb on March 20th following allegations of significant financial misconduct involving its former CEO, Kim Dae-sik. Prosecutors suspect Kim embezzled substantial funds from the exchange, including a 3 billion Korean won (over $2 million) apartment lease deposit, to finance a personal real estate purchase. Regarding the potential for a strategic reserve of digital assets, the Bank of Korea issued a statement , confirming that the central bank is not interested in acquiring Bitcoin (BTC). Related: South Korea to Release Institutional Crypto Investment Guidelines in Q3 2025 Earlier this month, South Korea’s Democratic Party was asked to persuade the Bank of Korea to discuss the potential benefits of a strategy Bitcoin reserve, similar to US President Donald Trump’s administration. The inherent volatility of BTC led the central bank to swiftly reject the idea of a strategic Bitcoin reserve. As per CoinMarketCap , Bitcoin soared to an all-time high of $109,114.88 two months ago and currently trades at $84,106.10, down 22% from those levels. Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. The article does not constitute financial advice or advice of any kind. Coin Edition is not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of the utilization of content, products, or services mentioned. Readers are advised to exercise caution before taking any action related to the company.