Lotte Data Communication launches NFT donation campaign for children’s rehab center

Calls for Regulation of Crypto Investment Management Firms Amidst Growing ConcernsThere have been recent calls in South Korea for crypto investment management companies to be subject to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act amidst concerns about potential regulatory blind spots negatively impacting crypto investors.Photo by Conny Schneider on UnsplashPushing for regulatory oversightKang Seong-hoo, chairman of the Korea Digital Asset Business Association (KDA) went into detail regarding the issue during a forum held by the association on Thursday to discuss the efficient use of technology and safety management in the era of the digital economy.He emphasized that dealings related to virtual asset management such as deposits, lending, and staking must be regulated by authorities under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. This is due to the fact that crypto investment management companies are not within the purview of the Act On Reporting and Using Specified Financial Transaction Information or the Virtual Asset User Protection Act, the latter of which is set to take effect next year.The Act On Reporting and Using Specified Financial Transaction Information defines financial companies as those that provide services for selling, buying, exchanging, transferring, keeping, or managing virtual assets; or act as a broker, intermediary, or agent for these services. However, there is no mention of crypto management companies.Echoes of past crypto platform controversiesThese concerns are driven by the looming possibility of another debacle like the class-action lawsuits against crypto platforms like Haru Invest or Delio arising again as a result of regulatory gray areas. Two months ago, investors had filed a legal complaint after the two lenders unexpectedly suspended customer deposits and withdrawals, claiming that they suffered around KRW 50 billion (approximately $39 million at the time of the incident) in damages as a result.Furthermore, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), a division under the Korean Financial Services Commission (FSC), recently stated in a report that virtual asset deposits, lending, and DeFi services do not fall under the obligations of the Act On Reporting and Using Specified Financial Transaction Information.“Given the context of the ongoing crypto winter since last year, the business model of virtual asset management companies, which is heavily reliant on arbitrage between exchanges, poses a high risk of incidents similar to the Haru Invest and Delio cases,” said Chairman Kang.“In order to ensure virtual asset user protection and market safety, authorities should promptly explore regulatory measures under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act for virtual asset management such as deposits, lending, staking, and the like.”

During a National Policy Committee audit, South Korean lawmakers pressed financial regulators on their oversight of the domestic crypto market, focusing on Binance’s acquisition of local exchange Gopax, risks from order-book sharing with foreign platforms, and weaknesses in anti–money laundering (AML) controls.Photo by Kanchanara on UnsplashQuestions over Gopax compensationAccording to Kuki News, Democratic Party lawmaker Min Byeong-dug has urged regulators to reach out to Binance for details on its plan to compensate Gopax creditors following its acquisition of the local exchange. One of the nation’s five fiat-to-crypto exchanges, Gopax suspended withdrawals from its GoFi service, a yield-bearing product, in November 2022 after the collapse of the Bahamas-based FTX crypto exchange and the bankruptcy of Genesis, a U.S.-based crypto financial services firm. Citing investor losses estimated at 10 billion to 50 billion won (about $7 million–$35 million), Min said Binance had agreed to cover the shortfall as part of its cashless acquisition of Gopax, but full repayment to Korean users remains unresolved. He noted that the deal had faced delays due to concerns raised by the Financial Services Commission’s (FSC) Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) over Binance’s eligibility as a major shareholder, and urged the FSC and FIU to ensure a clear and timely resolution for affected investors. Concerns over order-book sharingPeople Power Party (PPP) lawmaker Lee Heon-seung raised additional concerns about order-book sharing tied to the Binance–Gopax deal, warning it could create regulatory blind spots. According to Dailian, he asked the FIU about risks such as possible gaps in AML oversight at foreign exchanges and the potential exposure of Korean user data. FIU head Park Gwang said inadequate AML systems at overseas platforms can hinder fund tracing. He noted that separate approval is required before a domestic exchange can share its order book with a foreign platform, adding that no such request was under discussion. Park said the FIU would closely examine the matter and ensure protection of personal data. Lee also questioned how effectively regulators can supervise the crypto market given its scale, pointing to the Bithumb exchange as an example, where he had raised similar concerns about order-book sharing. Bithumb serves about 3.8 million users and records roughly 605 trillion won (approximately $426 billion) in annual trading volume. He said order-book sharing with major global exchanges such as Binance could complicate AML compliance, data protection, and regulatory oversight, and called for stronger enforcement. In response, Park said that the agency would ensure proper supervision to address these risks. Allegations of AML loopholes and illicit useAnother PPP lawmaker, Kim Jae-sub, flagged a potential AML loophole involving Binance, saying the exchange had allegedly been used by Cambodia’s Prince Group, which is linked to fraudulent schemes to conceal illicit funds. Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint to seize roughly 127,271 Bitcoin linked to Prince Group’s operations, marking the largest seizure in its history. Kim also cited past allegations connecting Binance to illicit transactions involving Hamas and North Korea, and said the exchange’s founder faces related charges. He urged the FSC to conduct a thorough examination to determine the extent of any involvement if the claims prove accurate. As the parliamentary audit continues, lawmakers from both parties are pressing regulators to clarify standards, tighten oversight, and prioritize investor protection while maintaining fair and predictable rules for market participants. 

Korean Web3 Enabler Participates in NFT.NYC 2023The Moon Labs, a Korean Web3 enabler, participated in NFT.NYC 2023 that took place in New York from April 12 to 14, according to Maeil Business Newspaper.Photo by Luca Bravo on UnsplashCollaborations with SuperchiefIn collaboration with New York-based underground artist supporter Superchief Gallery NFT, the Moon Labs advertised its decentralized autonomous organization project LeisureMetaverse on Time Square’s digital screen. Previously, the Moon Labs co-hosted NFT Korea Festival 2023 with Superchief Gallery NFT.A2E incentivization modelThe Moon Labs boasts the web 3.0 community LM Nova, the NFT marketplace PlayNomm, and its native wallet, LM Wallet. In particular, LM Nova has adopted an act-to-earn (A2E) model to provide incentives to users.About NFT.NYCNFT.NYC, one of the world’s largest NFT events, has been held annually since 2018. The show attracted not only crypto entrepreneurs but also artists, investors, and influencers. More than 500 brands took part in the event, and over 1,500 speakers delivered their talks at the conference.The Moon Labs CEO Moon Seong-eok said the company will seize this opportunity to expand global partnerships and further commit to the growth of the NFT ecosystem.