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Growing Concerns about Single Crypto Exchange Listings in Korea

Policy & Regulation·April 14, 2023, 2:11 AM

According to Yonhap Infomax, there is increasing concern about single crypto exchange listings in the Korean market, following the recent arrest of two former Coinone employees.

crypto coins
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Crypto listing bribery

The individuals were detained by the Seoul prosecution for allegedly accepting about 3 billion KRW (equivalent to over $2.2 million) in bribes to list a certain cryptocurrency on the exchange.

Prosecutors are investigating if these suspects were also involved in the listing of the Puriever token, which is reportedly connected to the kidnapping and murder of a woman in her forties in Gangnam, Seoul.

 

Single exchange-listed cryptos

A recent report by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) revealed that 389 cryptocurrencies were listed on a single Korean exchange in the second half of last year, a decrease from the previous year’s 403. Despite the decrease, the trend of single exchange listings continued. Exchanges often exclusively list specific cryptocurrencies to gain a competitive edge, as investors typically prefer larger exchanges with greater liquidity.

However, these cryptocurrencies may lack proper review and management and are often highly volatile. The FSC report showed that 34% of cryptocurrencies listed on a single exchange had a market cap of less than 100 million KRW (~$76,000). The Financial Intelligence Unit also warned investors about price fluctuations and liquidity shortages.

High volatile cryptocurrencies are attractive to exchanges, as they can lead to increased transaction fee profits.

 

Transparent listing

To address this issue, experts advocate for a transparent listing process.

One lawyer in the crypto industry noted that there is a global trend of regulating cryptocurrencies as securities, and if relevant bills pass in Korea, their issuance and disclosure will be regulated. Clear guidelines on disclosures could resolve the issues of single crypto exchange listings, the legal advisor added.

Another industry insider has called for investor caution, stressing the need to consider the potential delisting of these crypto assets.

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