Binance shakes up Korea, Morgan Stanley’s security tokens in Japan: Asia Express

Four years on, Binance is back in South Korea! Plus, Morgan Stanley and Japan’s largest bank’s new digital asset division. Asia Express.

Binance is returning to South Korea nearly five years after exiting the market in December 2020, following the Financial Intelligence Units (FIU) approval of its acquisition of Gopax one of only five local exchanges authorized to provide crypto-to-fiat services.

According to a Maeil Business Newspaper exclusive, the FIU granted final approval on Wednesday, ending more than two years of uncertainty over Binances reentry. The exchange acquired a majority stake in Gopax in 2023, but the deal stalled amid regulatory scrutiny and Binances legal troubles in the US.

The return of the worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange could shake up South Koreas long-standing duopoly of Upbit and Bithumb. Under the countrys crypto regulations, exchanges must partner with a domestic bank to offer real-name verified accounts. Though the system is designed to strengthen Anti-Money Laundering and Know-Your-Customer compliance, it has made market entry difficult for newcomers.

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