Mirae Asset seeks 92.06% Korbit stake amid FIU review

Proposed Mirae Asset 92.06% Korbit acquisition: confirmed facts and status

Mirae Asset Group is pursuing a 92.06% stake in cryptocurrency exchange Korbit, a transaction that would transfer control to the group, according to Ainvest.com (https://www.ainvest.com/news/mirae-asset-poised-buy-korbit-betting-regulated-crypto-growth-2512/?utm_source=openai). The report notes the deal remains subject to internal governance and regulatory steps.

The same coverage cites local media valuing the deal between roughly $70 million and $100 million and characterizing Korbit as a top-tier domestic venue by daily volume. It also indicates Mirae Asset has not issued a definitive public confirmation.

Why this matters for South Korea crypto regulation and markets

This bid arrives as Korea strengthens oversight of virtual-asset trading. According to the Financial Supervisory Service, authorities plan 24/7 AI-based monitoring to detect unfair trades, reinforcing expectations for institutional-grade controls.

Compliance is central to the review because South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit recently fined Korbit 2.73 billion won and issued an institutional warning, as reported by FinanceFeeds (https://financefeeds.com/korbit-faces-1-9m-aml-fine-while-mirae-asset-weighs-majority-stake/?utm_source=openai). “Any acquirer will need to invest heavily in compliance work,” the report noted.

Strategically, the move aligns with Mirae Asset’s vision of bridging traditional finance and digital assets, as covered by MEXC News (https://www.mexc.co/en-IN/news/396693?utm_source=openai). If executed, this may gradually shift market structure by introducing more institutional standards.

Near term, operations are expected to continue as usual while approvals are pending. Material updates typically follow regulatory clearance and deal closing, rather than at signing.

Approval scrutiny will likely focus on ownership structure and AML/KYC remediation. Timeline and conditions, if any, will depend on how these issues are addressed during review.

Regulatory review, compliance tasks, and deal structure details

Approval checkpoints: separation rule and FIU sanction implications

Korea’s 2017 “separation of finance and virtual assets” policy limits direct ownership of exchanges by regulated financial institutions; Mirae Asset is using its non-financial affiliate, Mirae Asset Consulting, to navigate this, according to Gate.com (https://www.gate.com/tr/news/detail/17414006?utm_source=openai). Separately, the FIU sanction cited above implies examiners may expect demonstrable upgrades in AML/KYC governance before closing.

Korbit assets and vehicle: VASP license, Shinhan Bank, Mirae Asset Consulting

Korbit holds a virtual-asset service provider (VASP) license and maintains real-name bank accounts via Shinhan Bank, advantages seen as critical in a tightening regime, as reported by Korea Times (https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/economy/cryptocurrency/20260101/mirae-assets-korbit-takeover-bid-signals-shake-up-in-koreas-crypto-market?utm_source=openai). The acquisition vehicle is the group’s non-financial affiliate referenced above, Mirae Asset Consulting.

FAQ about Mirae Asset Korbit acquisition

How does South Korea’s separation of finance and virtual assets rule affect this deal and approval odds?

South Korea restricts financial institutions from owning virtual-asset operators. Using a non-financial affiliate may satisfy the rule, but approval remains uncertain and depends on detailed safeguards.

Will Korbit’s FIU AML/KYC fine jeopardize regulatory approval, and what compliance upgrades are required?

Regulators fined Korbit 2.73 billion won for AML/KYC lapses. Approval likely requires strengthened onboarding, transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, and governance reporting, with verification before or as conditions to closing.