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Dunamu is a South Korean fintech company that provides a wide range of services with a focus on blockchain and fintech, including Upbit, the operator of the country's largest crypto exchange. The South Korean internet giant Kakao holds a 10.88% stake in Dunamu, down from the roughly 20% stake it had owned together via its affiliated funds.
Samsung Securities plans to acquire 2% stake in Upbit operator Dunamu for $204 million
Samsung Securities has passed a board resolution to acquire 2% of Dunamu's shares for 306.3 billion won (approximately $204 million), totaling around 697,000 shares at an acquisition price of about 439,000 won per share.The sellers in this transaction include Kakao Investment, Kakao Ventures, Kakao Youth Startup Fund, and the KIF-Kakao Woori Bank Technology Finance Investment Fund. Based on the transaction price, Dunamu's overall valuation is estimated at approximately 15.3 trillion won (about $10.2 billion).Samsung Securities stated that this investment aims to enhance its competitiveness in the digital asset business and expand related synergies. Previously, Hanwha Investment & Securities also acquired Dunamu shares held by Kakao Investment at the same valuation. (Yonhap News Agency)
South Korea’s delayed cryptocurrency legislation hampers NAVER’s merger process; DS Securities lowers target price to KRW 300,000
According to The Asia Business Daily, DS Investment & Securities issued a research report lowering NAVER’s target price from its previous level to 300,000 KRW, while maintaining a “Buy” rating. Analyst Choi Seung-ho noted that the downward revision is primarily driven by two factors: first, NAVER’s operating profit margin for this year is projected to decline from 18.3% to 17.6%, due to rising advertising and e-commerce marketing expenses as well as depreciation costs; second, delayed legislative progress on cryptocurrency-related regulations is directly affecting the proposed merger between NAVER Financial and Dunamu, raising the possibility of further postponement beyond the originally scheduled completion in September. Previously, DS Securities had assigned a valuation of 15 trillion KRW to NAVER’s cryptocurrency business within its Sum-of-the-Parts (SOTP) valuation; this portion has now been removed from the updated report. Choi Seung-ho added that the e-commerce business remains NAVER’s core growth engine going forward, with annual e-commerce sales expected to reach approximately 2.7 trillion KRW.
Ethereum Layer 2 infrastructure Optimism partners with Dunamu, Toss, and DB Securities to expand into the Korean market
Ethereum Layer 2 infrastructure Optimism has officially announced a tripartite strategic collaboration, joining forces with Upbit operator Dunamu, fintech platform Toss, and DB Securities to comprehensively expand into the Korean market. On the cooperation front with Dunamu, both parties will upgrade the GIWA public chain based on the OP Stack and promote its global development. A three-month technical verification will be conducted with Toss to build a compliant Korean won digital financial infrastructure. Optimism and DB Securities are focusing on the STO and RWA sectors, planning to transform Jeju Island's smart agriculture, livestock assets, and Korean intellectual property into tokenized securities and real-world asset products. This will facilitate the phased on-chain commercialization of local physical assets, with the entire cooperation framework tailored to align with Korea's financial regulatory framework.
Naver and Dunamu's $9.9 Billion Share Swap Transaction Delayed Again to Year-End
Naver Financial and Dunamu have postponed the completion date of their comprehensive share swap transaction to December 31st, marking the second delay for this deal. The transaction aims to integrate Dunamu, the operator of South Korea's largest cryptocurrency exchange Upbit, into Naver's financial division. The original settlement date was September 30th. Dunamu stated that incomplete digital asset legislation and pending antitrust reviews remain key variables, and any progress in either approval process could further extend the timeline or even lead to changes in the transaction.
Upbit Parent Company Dunamu and Naver Financial Stock Swap Transaction Delayed for Second Time
According to The Block, South Korea's Upbit parent company Dunamu and Naver Financial announced that their stock swap transaction has been delayed again, with the latest deadline extended to December 31, 2026. This is the second delay for the transaction; previously, in March this year, it was postponed from June 30 to September 30. The two companies stated that the "Digital Asset Basic Act" currently being drafted in South Korea may affect the transaction's progress or even the final outcome. The bill contains controversial clauses proposing to cap the shareholding ratio of major shareholders in domestic crypto exchanges at 20%, which would directly impact Upbit's existing equity structure if implemented. Previously, the transaction plan involved Naver Financial issuing approximately 87.56 million new shares, with a total value of about 15.13 trillion Korean won (approximately 9.9 billion USD), to promote synergistic development between both parties in the fields of digital assets and the integration of AI and blockchain.
Bithumb Faces Another Regulatory Storm as South Korean Police Investigate Lawmaker's Influence in Hiring Allegations
Odaily News: South Korean police recently raided cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb to investigate allegations that independent lawmaker Kim Byung-gi used his influence to secure a job for his son. According to reports, Kim’s son joined Bithumb in January 2025 and worked there for about six months. Police are investigating whether external pressure or preferential treatment was involved in the hiring process. Additionally, the case has also implicated Dunamu, the operator of South Korea’s largest crypto exchange Upbit, with the investigation scope expanding from simple hiring issues to potential abuse of power and conflicts of interest.Investigators noted that during his tenure on the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee, Kim Byung-gi raised multiple inquiries against Dunamu during committee meetings, sparking external speculation that he may have been seeking benefits for the company where his son was employed.It is understood that police have previously questioned executives from several cryptocurrency firms and have conducted search and seizure operations at Bithumb’s headquarters and Bithumb Financial Tower. Kim Byung-gi himself is under investigation on 13 charges, including allegations related to job placements, bribery for nominations, and requests concerning university transfers. He has stated that he believes he will ultimately be able to prove his innocence.Notably, Bithumb has been facing sustained regulatory pressure recently. In March this year, South Korea’s financial regulator fined Bithumb approximately $24.5 million for violations related to KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) regulations, and issued a six-month partial business suspension order. However, the Seoul court temporarily suspended the penalty in late April, and the relevant legal proceedings are still ongoing. (Cointelegraph)
Korea FSC Reviews Hana Bank's Acquisition of Dunamu Shares for Compliance with Regulatory Rules
the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of South Korea is reviewing whether Hana Bank's acquisition of shares in Dunamu violates the regulatory rule of "separation between finance and virtual assets."The Virtual Asset Department of the FSC stated that Hana Bank indirectly holds equity in Dunamu by acquiring shares in Kakao Investment. This essentially constitutes an investment in a virtual asset trading platform and will therefore be reviewed under the same regulatory standards.According to reports, since 2017, the South Korean government has restricted financial institutions from holding or purchasing virtual assets or making equity investments in related companies through administrative guidance. If ultimately found to be in violation, Hana Bank's related transaction may not proceed.Additionally, Mirae Asset Consulting is currently pushing forward with the acquisition of management rights for Kobit, while Korea Investment & Securities remains cautious about related businesses. Hana Bank had previously announced plans to acquire approximately 6.55% of Dunamu's shares, but did not consult with regulators beforehand. (iNews24)
Naver Plans IPO for Its Financial Subsidiary; Share Swap Transaction with Cryptocurrency Exchange Dunamu Progresses
According to Tech in Asia, Naver plans to pursue an IPO for its subsidiary Naver Financial within five years after completing a share swap transaction with Dunamu—the operator of South Korea’s Upbit cryptocurrency exchange. Per the shareholders’ agreement signed by both parties, an IPO committee must be established within one year following the completion of the transaction; if the IPO is not completed within five years, the deadline may be extended up to seven years. The specific timing and structure of the IPO have yet to be determined and will depend on market conditions and regulatory developments. Notably, South Korea’s proposed Digital Asset Basic Act could impact the transaction structure, and regulators are also discussing a rule that would cap the maximum shareholding ratio for major shareholders of cryptocurrency exchanges at 20%. Meanwhile, Dunamu’s operating profit for 2025 declined 26.7% year-on-year to KRW 869.3 billion (approximately USD 591 million), primarily due to a slowdown in cryptocurrency trading volume.
韩国加密交易所陷入"寒冬"，日交易额一年内骤降 88%
据 ZDNet Korea 报道，韩国国内 5 大原币种虚拟资产交易所日交易额截至 7月 20 日约为 4127 亿韩元，较一年前骤降 88%。交易额下滑与比特币价格走低密切相关——比特币去年 10 月创下 12.6 万美元历史高点后持续回落，目前在 6 万美元初横盘。全球加密货币总市值同比下降 41%至约 2.32 万亿美元，业内人士将当前行情定性为"第二次加密冬天"。受此冲击，韩国头部交易所 Dunamu（旗下 Upbit）一季度营收及营业利润同比分别下滑 55%和 78%；中小交易所 Korbit 为维持运营，今年已三度出售持仓资产，仅近期便通过抛售 15枚 BTC 和60枚 ETH 套现约 16 亿韩元。
South Korea’s delayed cryptocurrency legislation hampers NAVER’s merger process; DS Securities lowers target price to KRW 300,000
According to The Asia Business Daily, DS Investment & Securities issued a research report lowering NAVER’s target price from its previous level to 300,000 KRW, while maintaining a “Buy” rating. Analyst Choi Seung-ho noted that the downward revision is primarily driven by two factors: first, NAVER’s operating profit margin for this year is projected to decline from 18.3% to 17.6%, due to rising advertising and e-commerce marketing expenses as well as depreciation costs; second, delayed legislative progress on cryptocurrency-related regulations is directly affecting the proposed merger between NAVER Financial and Dunamu, raising the possibility of further postponement beyond the originally scheduled completion in September. Previously, DS Securities had assigned a valuation of 15 trillion KRW to NAVER’s cryptocurrency business within its Sum-of-the-Parts (SOTP) valuation; this portion has now been removed from the updated report. Choi Seung-ho added that the e-commerce business remains NAVER’s core growth engine going forward, with annual e-commerce sales expected to reach approximately 2.7 trillion KRW.
Samsung SDS and Dunamu Advance Stablecoin and AI Payment Partnership, Q2 Cloud Business Revenue Grows 17%
According to Yonhap News, Samsung SDS announced a strategic partnership with South Korean blockchain company Dunamu (which operates the crypto exchange Upbit). Both parties are discussing specific details regarding multiple digital asset collaboration plans, including stablecoin infrastructure, virtual asset financial system integration (SI), and AI-driven next-generation payment businesses. Samsung SDS stated that this equity investment in Dunamu is not merely a financial investment, but a strategic move to enter the digital financial infrastructure sector, combining Dunamu's blockchain operational experience with Samsung SDS's capabilities in IT services, AI, cloud, and security.
Ethereum Layer 2 infrastructure Optimism partners with Dunamu, Toss, and DB Securities to expand into the Korean market
Ethereum Layer 2 infrastructure Optimism has officially announced a tripartite strategic collaboration, joining forces with Upbit operator Dunamu, fintech platform Toss, and DB Securities to comprehensively expand into the Korean market. On the cooperation front with Dunamu, both parties will upgrade the GIWA public chain based on the OP Stack and promote its global development. A three-month technical verification will be conducted with Toss to build a compliant Korean won digital financial infrastructure. Optimism and DB Securities are focusing on the STO and RWA sectors, planning to transform Jeju Island's smart agriculture, livestock assets, and Korean intellectual property into tokenized securities and real-world asset products. This will facilitate the phased on-chain commercialization of local physical assets, with the entire cooperation framework tailored to align with Korea's financial regulatory framework.
South Korean Virtual Asset Exchanges See Sharp Decline in New Listings, Trading Volume Halved
According to EToday, South Korea's top five virtual asset exchanges (Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit, Gopax) added only 117 new trading listings in the first half of the year, a 44% decrease from 210 in the same period last year; the net increase plummeted from 191 to 49, a year-on-year decline of 74%. Meanwhile, the number of delistings surged from 19 to 68, an increase of 258%. Global virtual asset trading volume recorded $46.07 billion in June, down 34% from $70 billion in the same period last year. The shrinkage in trading volume directly compressed fee income; Dunamu (Upbit's parent company) and Bithumb's first-quarter fee income accounted for 97.49% and 99.99% of operating revenue respectively, highlighting the issue of high dependency on retail spot trading.
Open USD Consortium Accused of Listing Samsung and Others as Stablecoin Partners Without Consent
Open Standard, the consortium behind Open USD, has been accused of listing companies such as Samsung Electronics as supporters of the OUSD stablecoin project without their consent.Tony Chung, Head of Blockmedia’s BD division, stated that Samsung Electronics said no formal discussions had taken place and that it was unclear what role it would play in the project.Shinhan, Dunamu, and K Bank stated that Open Standard had inquired about their interest in participating, and they merely indicated they would "consider" it, only to later find their names listed as consortium members.Tether advisor Gabor Gurbacs noted that some of the listed partners claimed they had never signed or agreed to anything.Circle co-founder and CEO Jeremy Allaire commented, "Integrity matters." OUSD is expected to launch later this year. (Bitcoin.com News).
Open USD (OUSD) Alliance Sparks Controversy After Announcing Members; Samsung, Dunamu, and Other Korean Companies Claim No Formal Consultation
Open Standard announced the launch of the USD stablecoin Open USD (OUSD) and plans to go live within the year, stating that over 140 financial and payment-related institutions are participating, including Visa, Mastercard, BlackRock, Samsung Electronics, Dunamu, Hanwha, and others. However, several South Korean companies stated that they had not previously conducted formal negotiations with the issuer; some institutions only responded that they could evaluate after the project matures, but were subsequently listed as alliance members.
Circle CEO: Has Expanded Collaboration with Dunamu and Bithumb to Advance Digital Asset and Stablecoin Adoption in Korea
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire stated that Circle has expanded its collaboration with Dunamu—the operator of Upbit—to support the compliant adoption of digital assets, and broadened its partnership with Bithumb to strengthen stablecoin infrastructure and raise market awareness of stablecoins. Allaire noted that South Korea is rapidly advancing regulation for stablecoins and digital assets, and that local cryptocurrency adoption rates are high. During his time in Seoul, he also met with representatives from KakaoGroup, Coinone, Hashed, Shinhan Bank, KB Financial Group, and Woori Bank.
Related news
Samsung SDS and Dunamu Advance Stablecoin and AI Payment Partnership, Q2 Cloud Business Revenue Grows 17%
According to Yonhap News, Samsung SDS announced a strategic partnership with South Korean blockchain company Dunamu (which operates the crypto exchange Upbit). Both parties are discussing specific details regarding multiple digital asset collaboration plans, including stablecoin infrastructure, virtual asset financial system integration (SI), and AI-driven next-generation payment businesses. Samsung SDS stated that this equity investment in Dunamu is not merely a financial investment, but a strategic move to enter the digital financial infrastructure sector, combining Dunamu's blockchain operational experience with Samsung SDS's capabilities in IT services, AI, cloud, and security.
韩国加密交易所陷入"寒冬"，日交易额一年内骤降 88%
据 ZDNet Korea 报道，韩国国内 5 大原币种虚拟资产交易所日交易额截至 7月 20 日约为 4127 亿韩元，较一年前骤降 88%。交易额下滑与比特币价格走低密切相关——比特币去年 10 月创下 12.6 万美元历史高点后持续回落，目前在 6 万美元初横盘。全球加密货币总市值同比下降 41%至约 2.32 万亿美元，业内人士将当前行情定性为"第二次加密冬天"。受此冲击，韩国头部交易所 Dunamu（旗下 Upbit）一季度营收及营业利润同比分别下滑 55%和 78%；中小交易所 Korbit 为维持运营，今年已三度出售持仓资产，仅近期便通过抛售 15枚 BTC 和60枚 ETH 套现约 16 亿韩元。
Hanwha Group Becomes the Largest Shareholder of Securitize
: Hanwha Group has become the largest shareholder of the US RWA project Securitize, holding a total of 15.6895 million shares, with a shareholding ratio of 9.6%, surpassing Blockchain Capital's 6.0% and co-founder Carlos Domingo's 5.4%. Hanwha Group currently holds approximately 5.9%, 3.1%, and 0.6% of the company's shares through its private equity fund, Hanwha Systems subsidiary H Foundation, and Hanwha Investment & Securities, respectively. Hanwha Investment & Securities has invested a total of 58 billion KRW this year in projects including the blockchain data platform Xangle, Web3 infrastructure company Kresus, and Digital Asset, the operator of the institutional-grade blockchain network Canton Network. Additionally, it made an additional investment of 597.8 billion KRW in Dunamu, the parent company of the South Korean crypto exchange Upbit, increasing its stake to 9.84%.
South Korea's Financial Supervisory Service Initiates Sanction Procedures Against Upbit Operator Dunamu
According to Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean Financial Supervisory Service has sent an inspection opinion letter to Upbit's operating company, officially initiating the sanction procedure. Subsequently, the sanction content will be finally determined after going through procedures such as company explanation, the Sanction Deliberation Committee, the Securities and Futures Commission, and the Financial Services Commission. Yonhap News Agency stated that since the current "Virtual Asset User Protection Act" mainly targets user protection and unfair trading, it lacks direct and clear sanction provisions for hacking/system accidents, resulting in uncertainty regarding the severity of the sanctions.
Ethereum Layer 2 infrastructure Optimism partners with Dunamu, Toss, and DB Securities to expand into the Korean market
Ethereum Layer 2 infrastructure Optimism has officially announced a tripartite strategic collaboration, joining forces with Upbit operator Dunamu, fintech platform Toss, and DB Securities to comprehensively expand into the Korean market. On the cooperation front with Dunamu, both parties will upgrade the GIWA public chain based on the OP Stack and promote its global development. A three-month technical verification will be conducted with Toss to build a compliant Korean won digital financial infrastructure. Optimism and DB Securities are focusing on the STO and RWA sectors, planning to transform Jeju Island's smart agriculture, livestock assets, and Korean intellectual property into tokenized securities and real-world asset products. This will facilitate the phased on-chain commercialization of local physical assets, with the entire cooperation framework tailored to align with Korea's financial regulatory framework.
Naver and Dunamu's $9.9 Billion Share Swap Transaction Delayed Again to Year-End
Naver Financial and Dunamu have postponed the completion date of their comprehensive share swap transaction to December 31st, marking the second delay for this deal. The transaction aims to integrate Dunamu, the operator of South Korea's largest cryptocurrency exchange Upbit, into Naver's financial division. The original settlement date was September 30th. Dunamu stated that incomplete digital asset legislation and pending antitrust reviews remain key variables, and any progress in either approval process could further extend the timeline or even lead to changes in the transaction.