South Korea Expands Anti–Money Laundering for Crypto

Crypto News Regulation

South Korea Expands Anti–Money Laundering Regulations for Crypto

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: November 28, 2025

Key Takeaways

South Korea will now enforce full crypto Travel Rule data sharing for all transactions, which tightens its anti–money laundering framework;
Stricter checks will bar individuals with criminal records from holding major stakes in virtual asset firms to boost integrity;
Regulators gain new powers to freeze high-risk accounts early, while South Korea strengthens global AML cooperation.

Stop overpaying - start transferring money with Ogvio. Join the waitlist & grab early Rewards NOW! 🎁

South Korea Expands Anti–Money Laundering Regulations for Crypto

BITDEGREE IN YOUR SOCIAL FEED

South Korea has expanded its anti–money laundering requirements by lowering the minimum amount for the crypto Travel Rule.

Previously, transactions below 1 million won (approximately $680) did not require full details of the sender and receiver.

On November 28, the Financial Services Commission announced that exchanges must collect and share this information for all transfers, regardless of amount.

What is Solana in Crypto? (Beginner-Friendly Animation)

Did you know?

Want to get smarter & wealthier with crypto?

Subscribe - We publish new crypto explainer videos every week!

Virtual asset service providers in South Korea must follow tougher background checks for major shareholders. Individuals with past convictions for crimes such as drug offenses or tax fraud will be ineligible to own large stakes in these companies.

The new plan features a system to freeze accounts early in cases viewed as particularly high risk. Regulatory authorities will be able to temporarily stop the movement of funds suspected of being linked to criminal activity, such as gambling or narcotics, while investigations are underway.

This is designed to protect the public without creating excessive inconvenience. Proposed updates to the law are scheduled for completion and presentation to the National Assembly in the first half of 2026.

South Korean officials also look to deepen cooperation with global partners. The Financial Intelligence Unit has plans to strengthen ties with counterparts in Southeast Asian countries.

At the next Financial Action Task Force meeting, South Korea will present strategies to address threats such as online scams and the use of cryptocurrencies for terrorist financing.

Recently, South Korea's efforts to establish official rules for won-based stablecoins were delayed. Why? Read the full story.