South Korea plans to allow spot digital asset exchange-traded funds, including spot Bitcoin ETFs, this year as part of its newly released 2026 Economic Growth Strategy. The move would give local investors regulated access to crypto exposure through the country’s stock market for the first time.
Korean Government Roadmap for Spot ETFs
On 9 January, the government published its 2026 Economic Growth Strategy, stating that it will “promote the launch of spot ETFs for digital assets such as Bitcoin this year.” The Financial Services Commission (FSC), the top financial regulator, will lead the process and review Korea’s Capital Markets Act to classify digital assets as eligible underlying assets for ETFs.
Officials said they are closely monitoring how spot bitcoin ETFs operate in the United States and Hong Kong, citing those markets as reference points for product design and oversight. The Korea Exchange has indicated that its systems are ready to support spot digital asset ETFs once the legal framework is in place.
Legislative Changes and Regulatory Priorities
The plan builds on an earlier FSC roadmap from 2025 that proposed spot crypto ETFs but stalled amid broader delays to digital asset legislation.
Under the new strategy, the FSC will accelerate the implementation of “phase two” digital asset laws, covering fund structuring, custody standards, and pricing mechanisms for crypto-based funds.
Lawmakers in South Korea are preparing amendments to the Capital Markets Act that would formally permit domestic financial institutions to create and list spot cryptocurrency ETFs. Parallel bills seek to clarify rules on stablecoins, custody, and exchange supervision, aiming to align crypto intermediaries with traditional financial compliance standards.
What Changes for South Korean Investors
South Korean regulations have so far restricted domestic funds’ exposure to international products and prohibited local asset managers from introducing spot crypto ETFs, even as investors shift funds to bitcoin funds registered in the United States.
Allowing spot ETFs domestically would allow institutional and ordinary investors to access Bitcoin through well-known brokerage accounts rather than through unregulated or foreign channels.
Bitcoin spot ETFs may list on the Korea Exchange before the end of 2026, pending final regulatory clearance and product registrations, if the legislative process moves forward as planned. The project is framed by government officials as part of a broader plan to maintain investment activity in digital assets within South Korea’s regulatory boundaries, modernize capital markets, and reduce capital outflows.
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