Q1 2025 South Korea Web3 Market Report: Is South Korea Still a Liquidity Exporter?
Transitioning from an investment-driven environment to a mature industrial ecosystem.Author: Tiger Research
This report is authored by Tiger Research, studying the South Korean Web3 market in the first quarter of 2025, analyzing its evolution from a liquidity-exporting market to a structured industrial ecosystem, and highlighting key regulatory developments and global project initiatives.
Key Summary
- From Liquidity Export to Industrial Ecosystem: In the first quarter of 2025, the South Korean Web3 market reaches a turning point. This market, once viewed as a "liquidity exporter" for global projects, is transforming into a structured self-sustaining industrial ecosystem.
- Impact of Relaxed Corporate Account Regulations: As part of the Financial Services Commission's roadmap, institutional entities are gradually being allowed to engage in cryptocurrency trading through corporate accounts.
- Global Projects Leading Ecological Development: Projects like Avalanche, TON, Ripple, and Solana are actively establishing a long-term foundation in South Korea. Their activities have transcended marketing efforts, focusing on developer community building and hosting hackathons.
1. South Korean Web3 Market in Q1 2025: Still Just a Liquidity Export?
Despite active retail participation and ample liquidity, the institutional infrastructure development in the South Korean Web3 market has made limited progress. Regulatory efforts prioritize investor protection over ecological development, delaying broader industry growth.
The two main obstacles are: 1) restrictions on the association between corporate accounts and cryptocurrency exchanges; 2) high entry barriers for obtaining a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license. Corporations cannot connect their company accounts to local exchanges, making it legally unfeasible to convert cryptocurrencies obtained through operations into fiat currency via South Korean financial institutions. While some companies have turned to overseas entities as a stopgap, this approach carries regulatory risks and does not provide a sustainable long-term solution.
The high entry barriers for VASP registration have also become a major constraint on market development. While small-scale operations can technically operate without registration, large projects always face legal and regulatory uncertainties.
These institutional constraints, combined with investor activities that far exceed the maturity of the local ecosystem, have led some projects to view South Korea primarily as a customer acquisition channel. In this context, the external perception of the South Korean market as merely a "liquidity exporter" becomes difficult to refute.
The market developments in Q1 2025 indicate that South Korea has the potential to shift from a speculation-driven market to an industry revitalization-oriented market. Recent regulatory improvements (such as allowing corporate accounts for cryptocurrency trading) mark substantial progress toward structural change. Beneath the surface, global projects are steadily building a local ecosystem, supported by an expanding builder community and emerging new initiatives.
The South Korean Web3 market is at a critical turning point. As the ecosystem matures beyond an investor-driven development model, supported by institutional readiness and sustained investment interest, it is expected to generate greater long-term value.
2. Institutional Progress: Allowing Corporate Accounts for Cryptocurrency Trading
In South Korea, restrictions on corporate entities engaging in cryptocurrency trading began with the "Park Sang-ki Ban" in 2017. This policy, led by then-Minister of Justice Park Sang-ki, effectively prohibited financial institutions and corporations from participating in cryptocurrency trading. Although the guidelines have expired, this practice continues, creating a dual-track system where individuals can trade within the regulatory framework while corporate entities face restrictions on investment and financing activities.
Source: Tiger Research
To address these restrictions, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) officially announced the "Roadmap for Corporate Participation in the Cryptocurrency Market" on February 13, 2025. The core highlight of this roadmap is the phased lifting of the corporate cryptocurrency trading restrictions that have been in place for seven years.
- Phase 1 (Starting Q2 2025): Opening accounts to law enforcement agencies, non-profit organizations, and cryptocurrency exchanges, limited to asset liquidation purposes.
- Phase 2 (Starting H2 2025): Allowing professional investors, such as listed companies and registered investment firms, to trade.
- Phase 3 (Mid to Long Term): Fully opening the market to ordinary enterprises.
In Phase 1, since November 2024, law enforcement agencies such as prosecutors, tax authorities, and local governments have begun to gain account access for the liquidation of seized cryptocurrencies. Non-profit organizations and exchanges are expected to follow in Q2 2025. Phase 2 marks a more significant shift. Starting in H2 2025, listed companies and professional investment firms will be permitted to engage in cryptocurrency trading for investment and treasury management purposes.
However, most Web3 projects fall under the ordinary enterprises of Phase 3. To qualify for Phase 2, companies must maintain a financial investment product balance of at least 10 billion KRW (approximately 7 million USD) under the Capital Markets Act, or 5 billion KRW (approximately 3.5 million USD) if audited by an external entity—this is a threshold that most Web3 companies cannot meet. Therefore, most Web3 projects cannot immediately benefit from the new regulations. However, the roadmap still indicates a gradual relaxation of regulatory constraints. As Phase 3 progresses, direct market access for Web3-native enterprises will become increasingly feasible.
2.1 Positive Implications of Allowing Corporate Trading Accounts
Establishing a legal foundation for South Korean enterprises to engage in Web3 business.
Enhancing market stability through institutional investors with structured risk management and long-term strategies.
Promoting diversification of financial services, including cryptocurrency funds and custody services.
Web3 projects often use native tokens to exchange services and resources. However, in South Korea, companies previously had almost no legal means to liquidate acquired crypto assets. The new policy establishes a critical entry point for companies to operate compliantly, promoting the formal development of crypto-related business activities.
This progress is expected to further expand in the second half of the year, when trading permissions will extend to listed companies and registered institutional investors. Unlike retail investors, corporate investors tend to adopt structured risk management frameworks and long-term investment strategies. Their entry into the market is expected to reduce volatility and support the sustainable development of the South Korean Web3 ecosystem. Additionally, broader corporate participation may improve the persistent inefficiencies in the local market—most notably the "kimchi premium."
The increase in institutional participants is also expected to broaden the range of crypto-related financial services. Asset management companies may launch cryptocurrency funds or acquire custody service providers to offer integrated solutions. Fintech companies may develop corporate treasury tools that support crypto account management. These developments will help expand the South Korean Web3 industry by strengthening supporting service infrastructure and attracting more traditional financial institutions.
2.2 Potential Risks of Allowing Corporate Crypto Accounts
Phased deregulation may lead to supply-demand imbalances, putting downward pressure on prices.
As listed companies and institutional investors enter the market, government efforts to ensure tax revenue are expected to strengthen.
Conservative risk management by institutional investors may lead to concentrated holdings in Bitcoin, raising concerns about decreased activity in the altcoin market.
The introduction of corporate accounts may have substantial impacts on retail participants. From a market dynamics perspective, phased deregulation may lead to imbalances in buying and selling pressures. According to the FSC's corporate roadmap, regulators believe that corporate selling activities pose relatively low risks. Therefore, by the end of 2025, there may only be selling-side liquidity entering the market, leading to downward pressure on prices. Although the expected selling volume may remain moderate relative to the overall market, low liquidity tokens may face greater volatility.
From a regulatory perspective, once listed companies and institutional investors fully enter the market, government efforts to ensure tax revenue are expected to strengthen. Although cryptocurrency taxation has been postponed until January 1, 2027, the presidential election on June 3, 2025, may change policy directions, warranting close attention.
In terms of investment behavior, corporate capital may concentrate on Bitcoin. As seen with U.S. Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) and Japan's Metaplanet, institutional investors tend to allocate to large-cap stable assets due to conservative risk management. This may lead to significant capital inflows into Bitcoin or impact the altcoin market—where South Korean retail investors have traditionally been highly active. Therefore, the altcoin market may face reduced interest and liquidity in the medium to short term.
3. Industrial Transformation: Strategic Layout of Global Web3 Projects
Following the U.S. and China, South Korea has become a core strategic market for global Web3 projects. In response, numerous international teams are actively recruiting South Korean talent and establishing substantial collaborations, demonstrating a strategic shift from superficial marketing to building a sustainable, builder-led local ecosystem. This long-term layout not only supports the growth of individual projects but also enhances the overall competitiveness of the South Korean Web3 industry.
3.1 Project Support: Guiding Industry Direction Through Support for Mature Teams
Source: Avalanche Korea X
Avalanche and the TON Foundation are global project exemplars that build ecosystems through direct support for local teams in South Korea. After a successful collaboration with "MapleStory," Avalanche has expanded its partnerships with small and medium-sized projects in Korea. The team holds quarterly demo days to showcase available products and actively attract users, creating a feedback loop that provides substantial value to projects and participants.
The TON Foundation has taken a more structured approach by launching the "TON Society Korea Builder" program. This program includes a formal project database, a systematic support framework, and expanded network access to strengthen the local TON ecosystem in a scalable manner.
These ecosystem support strategies have yielded tangible results that go beyond short-term exposure or participation metrics. Verified local developers gain a more stable growth foundation, and their success stories provide clear guidance for newcomers. At the same time, these initiatives lay the groundwork for the international expansion of South Korean projects.
3.2 Hackathons: Cultivating Korean Builders and Strengthening Market Potential
Hackathons hosted by XRPL Korea (Ripple) and Superteam Korea (Solana) have transcended single events, becoming key turning points for the South Korean Web3 ecosystem. In March, Ripple held a two-day "DE-BUTHON 2025," attracting 24 teams and 203 participants. Superteam Korea collaborated with 22 global partners to host the "SEOULANA HACKATHON," with over 300 participants.
The scale and success of these events help to shift the perception of South Korea as a speculation-driven market. The high participation in large hackathons reflects the existence of a strong builder ecosystem. These events have now become strategic launch platforms—providing builders with clear market entry paths and bridging the gap between prototype development and actual deployment.
As of Q1 2025, driven by globalization-led ecological development initiatives (rather than mere capital inflows), the South Korean Web3 industry is beginning to show quantifiable progress. Strengthened collaboration with mature participants, combined with developer support programs, is cultivating a new generation of local builders.
These developments mark a new momentum phase for the South Korean Web3 sector. On this foundation, South Korean projects are expected to deliver substantial innovations to the global stage in the coming years.
4. From Investment-Driven to Industry-Driven: A Turning Point for the South Korean Web3 Market
In Q1 2025, the South Korean Web3 market is undergoing a critical transformation—from an investment-driven environment to a mature industrial ecosystem. Regulatory progress, including the phased opening of corporate cryptocurrency trading accounts, lays the groundwork for structured market participation. Meanwhile, the ongoing ecological development efforts of global Web3 projects support the long-term growth positioning of the South Korean market.
Another significant milestone is the successful completion of the first retail user transaction in the South Korean central bank digital currency (CBDC) "Han River Project." Concurrently, major commercial banks in South Korea began exploring the issuance of a KRW stablecoin in early April. The Bank of Korea has also indicated a more proactive role in future regulatory legislation.
In terms of infrastructure, ongoing discussions about a "one exchange-multiple banks" system signal potential structural breakthroughs. Under this model, cryptocurrency exchanges will no longer be limited to a single banking partner and can connect with multiple commercial banks. This move is expected to significantly enhance market flexibility and user access.
Overall, these developments clearly demonstrate the evolution of the South Korean Web3 sector toward a sustainable industrial ecosystem. After years of regulatory constraints and structural inefficiencies, South Korea is entering a new phase characterized by policy synergy, institutional participation, and the emergence of industry-level growth.
