South Korea confirms spot Bitcoin ETF plans in 2026 Economic Growth Strategy
South Korea included spot Bitcoin ETFs in its 2026 Economic Growth Strategy. Regulators will start formal work this year to enable domestic trading of crypto-backed exchange-traded funds.
Government plan for bitcoin etfs
South Korea’s 2026 Economic Growth Strategy includes spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The strategy names bitcoin ETFs in 2026 as part of a broader capital-market push. The government links these products to higher domestic investment and preparation for a potential MSCI developed-market upgrade. Regulators start detailed ETF work in 2026 under the Financial Services Commission (FSC), which supervises financial services and securities markets.
Regulatory roadblocks around stablecoins
The Digital Asset Basic Act defines core rules for digital assets in South Korea, including licensing, disclosures, and reserve management. A second step focuses on stablecoins, which are crypto tokens targeting a fixed price, usually one national currency unit. The Bank of Korea wants a bank-led consortium with at least 51% bank ownership for stablecoin issuers, while the FSC resists this strict threshold. This dispute delays final stablecoin rules and pushes spot crypto ETF work into the 2026 window.
We have built market infrastructure, and we are ready to list and trade crypto-linked ETFs. — Jeong Eun-bo, Chairman, Korea Exchange
Exchange readiness and market backdrop
The Korea Exchange, the main stock exchange in South Korea, presents itself as operationally prepared for crypto ETFs. Chairman Jeong Eun-bo states that the exchange is ready to list and trade crypto-linked ETFs. The KOSPI benchmark index gained 76% in 2025, closing at 4,214.17 on 30 December 2025 and ranking among the strongest global equity performances. The 2026 plan also targets 25% of treasury funds as deposit tokens by 2030, linked to the Bank of Korea’s deposit token and central bank digital currency pilots.