South Korea strengthens encryption regulation, scrutiny of major shareholders in exchanges tightens, and the threshold for the applicability of the Travel Rule is removed

According to South Korean media Edaily, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of South Korea announced that the amendment to the enforcement decree of the Specific Financial Information Act, aimed at strengthening regulation of the cryptocurrency industry, has been approved by the State Council.

The main changes of the new regulations include: regulatory agencies will conduct stricter reviews of the qualifications of major shareholders of exchanges, while requiring that the debt ratio of exchanges must not exceed 200%. In addition, the previous Travel Rule only applied to transactions over 1 million won, but will now cover all transfers without a monetary threshold. Transactions involving overseas exchanges and personal wallets will be subject to differentiated control based on risk levels. The new regulations also require exchanges to be equipped with professional personnel and necessary equipment, and to establish internal control systems, with existing exchanges granted a one-year grace period. Some provisions will take effect on August 20, while those related to the Travel Rule will be officially implemented six months later.