South Korea clarifies crypto valuation for inheritance, gift taxes

South Korea has specified its valuation standards for virtual assets subject to inheritance and gift taxes, Money Today reported. The new rules state that the value of a crypto asset will be determined by its average market price over the two-month period spanning one month before and one month after the date of transfer. This approach excludes professional appraisals, reflecting the nature of assets traded on public markets. The government explained that this change applies the existing tax law principle—valuing assets with verifiable transaction prices at market value—to virtual assets. Additionally, the valuation method for corporate crypto transactions will shift from the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method to the total average method, a change made to account for the high frequency of corporate trading. South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance announced these measures on Jan. 16 in a revised enforcement decree following the 2025 tax reform. The ministry plans to promulgate the decree at the end of February.