Three Samsung affiliates are launching a coordinated push into Korea’s digital asset sector. Samsung Securities, Samsung SDS, and Samsung Card have agreed to acquire a combined 4 percent investment in Dunamu, the operator of Korea’s largest crypto exchange, Upbit. The businesses will purchase around 1.39 million shares of Dunamu from Kakao affiliates for 612.8 billion won ($408 million).
According to the Korea Times, Samsung SDS and Samsung Card will each own 1 percent, and Samsung Securities will own 2 percent. The companies called the purchase a strategic investment to gain new business in an industry moving beyond crypto trading alone. They said they plan to engage with Dunamu in sectors including security tokens, virtual asset services, and blockchain-based banking.
Stablecoins, Tokenized Securities, and Payments In Focus
Samsung Securities aims to deepen its work with Dunamu on issuing and distributing tokenized securities, or security token offerings, as well as on wider digital asset services. The brokerage already plays a role in Korea’s early STO market, and the Dunamu stake brings it closer to the country’s largest retail crypto exchange.
Samsung Card, meanwhile, has shown interest in building a payment ecosystem that uses digital assets if regulators approve won-based stablecoins. The issuer has explored linking Dunamu’s infrastructure with Monimo, Samsung Financial Networks’ super-app, so future stablecoin payments could flow through existing consumer channels. That strategy echoes moves by major Korean banks, which are testing won-pegged coins for both domestic and cross-border payments.
Samsung SDS is expected to add its enterprise technology and blockchain know-how to the alliance. Recently, the IT services arm won a contract to build the Korea Securities Depository’s new blockchain platform, set to go live by February 2027. Together, that role and its new tie to Dunamu could connect tokenized securities, trading, and settlement on a shared infrastructure.
The Dunamu deal comes as Korea’s major financial groups and tech giants rush to get ready for upcoming stablecoin rules. Banks like KB, Shinhan, Hana, and Woori are already testing won-pegged coins and building payment rails with partners such as Naver, Kakao, and Samsung Electronics.
By taking a direct stake in the country’s trading, exchange operator, Samsung’s finance and IT units signal that they expect stablecoins, tokenized assets, and crypto-linked payments to enter Korea’s mainstream financial system sooner rather than later.
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