South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Coinone is bringing in two new shareholders. According to information released on Friday, OKX Ventures, the investment arm of OKX, and Korea Investment & Securities will each invest 80 billion won, acquiring a 19.6% stake in Coinone upon completion of the transaction. The deal is still subject to regulatory approval.
The two institutions each invested 80 billion won.
Based on the amounts disclosed in the article, each investment is approximately $53 million. This means that Coinone will simultaneously bring in an investor with a global crypto platform background and a large South Korean brokerage firm.
Earlier this month, Yonhap News Agency reported that OKX and Korea Investment & Securities were considering acquiring approximately 20% of Coinone's shares each. This announcement essentially confirms the previous market rumors.
- OKX Ventures plans to hold 19.6% of the shares.
- Korea Investment & Securities plans to hold 19.6% of the shares.
- Single investment amount: 80 billion Korean won
Coinone bets on stablecoins and tokenized securities
The report mentions that Coinone is advancing its stablecoin and tokenized security businesses. This explains why this funding round attracted not only capital from the crypto industry but also traditional financial institutions.
In the South Korean market, stablecoins and the tokenization of real-world assets have been gaining momentum recently. For trading platforms, those that can proactively develop related products and establish compliant channels are expected to expand their business beyond spot trading in the future.
Large-scale investment reappears in the South Korean market.
In terms of transaction size, this is one of the largest recent investments by global crypto institutions in South Korea's digital asset industry. For OKX, acquiring a stake in a local exchange will help strengthen its reach in the South Korean market; for Coinone, introducing external capital and brokerage shareholders will facilitate its future expansion.
Whether the transaction can be completed currently depends on the progress of regulatory approval. If approved, Coinone's shareholder structure and business direction will see clearer changes.
