South Korea has taken a significant step toward lifting its ban on institutional cryptocurrency trading, as humanitarian aid group World Vision Korea sold 0.55 ETH (approximately $1,396.50) on the Upbit exchange.
The transaction, disclosed by Upbit’s parent company Dunamu, marks the first crypto sale by a non-retail entity under the country’s evolving regulatory framework.
The sale comes in response to new guidance issued by South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC), which announced that, as of June 1, qualified non-profit organizations and registered crypto exchanges can legally sell digital assets on local platforms. This policy change enables non-profits to liquidate crypto donations and allows exchanges to convert user fees paid in crypto.
The FSC emphasized that this shift is part of a phased approach. In the second half of 2025, additional regulatory updates will be introduced to permit trading by publicly listed companies and entities recognized as professional investors.
Sunday’s milestone transaction underscores South Korea’s growing willingness to accommodate regulated institutional involvement in the digital asset sector, following years of strict oversight and retail-only limitations. The move is expected to open the door to broader participation from non-retail players in the near future.
The development also aligns with South Korea’s broader push to balance crypto innovation with regulatory oversight, amid rising institutional interest in digital assets across Asia.
Kosta Gushterov
Reporter at Coindoo
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Source: https://coindoo.com/south-korea-eases-crypto-trading-ban-with-first-non-retail-sale/