South Korea Unveils Regulation To Initiate Major Crypto Delisting

The financial regulators in South Korea are seeking to incorporate protocols for terminating the trading of currently listed cryptocurrencies. The upcoming “Best Practices for Compliance with the Virtual Asset User Protection Act” will mark the delisting of several cryptocurrencies. The regulators said that this crypto regulation will be out in early June.

Components Of Upcoming Crypto Regulation In South Korea

An insider from South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service disclosed on May 10 that the upcoming guidelines will include criteria for listing virtual assets. Additionally, the regulation will incorporate directives on the decision-making process regarding the continuation of trading for already listed virtual assets. Moreover, they emphasized that the aim is to establish a framework for delisting specific virtual asset issuers in the event of any issues.

Whilst, between late May and early June, the guidelines will be provided. As of now, South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service is drafting guidelines to facilitate self-regulation among crypto exchanges ahead of the enactment of the Virtual Asset User Protection Act in July. Key components will include standards for virtual asset issuance volume, distribution volume, and transaction support.

Furthermore, it’ll consider measures such as the prohibition of listing virtual assets with a history of hacking. Moreover, the regulation will establish the requirement for Korean whitepapers and technical manuals for overseas virtual assets.

Currently, the Virtual Asset User Protection Act is in an early stage. Hence, an official from the Financial Supervisory Service noted inherent limitations in regulating virtual asset issuers and distributors. “The Virtual Asset User Protection Act is still in its first stage, so there are bound to be limitations in regulating virtual asset issuers and distributors,” he said, according to The Korea Economic Daily.

Also Read: Ripple CLO Hails Bipartisan Pushback on SEC’s Anti-Crypto Rules

DAXA’s Stance On Crypto Regulatory Scrutiny

In addition, to address this shortfall in South Korea, efforts are underway to establish self-regulatory measures such as best practices and guidelines. The decision by the Financial Supervisory Service to introduce such best practices stems from criticisms leveled at the efficacy of the Digital Asset Exchange Alliance’s (DAXA) common listing guidelines, unveiled last year.

“DAXA has guidelines for designating cautionary stocks and delisting, but it consistently takes a laissez-faire attitude even if large exchanges do not follow them,” commented Min Byeong-deok, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. In response, Min Byeong-deok condemned the neutralization of self-regulation. He stated, “It has become neutralized, and self-regulation has become meaningless.”

Meanwhile, DAXA explained that its member companies aren’t subject to its guidelines. It also highlighted the autonomous review and decision-making regarding member companies’ transaction support items. “When a problem is identified with a member company’s transaction support item, it is reviewed in accordance with procedures, but the review process and decisions are made by each member company,” stated a DAXA official.

Moreover, anticipated outcomes of the upcoming announcement of best practices for listing virtual assets include the formulation of listing policies by domestic virtual asset exchanges. The reason behind this possibility is the authoritative nature of the guidelines as opposed to the voluntary nature of consultative bodies like DAXA.

Also Read: Kraken Urges To Dismiss SEC’s Unregistered Securities Trading Claims