Crypto regulations in South Korea 2025 are getting intense as they are tightening oversight of the crypto market. As per local reports, the country has officially committed to the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), which will require detailed reporting of crypto transactions and the exchange of this data across borders.
South Korea Crypto Regulation and Impact on Exchanges and Traders
Starting in 2026, Korean exchanges like Upbit and Bithumb will have to collect transaction details from foreign investors using their platforms. This data will then be shared with the investors’ home countries. The first phase begins next year, when exchanges start logging this data. By 2027, the system will expand into full-scale information sharing between South Korea and 48 other nations, creating one of the most comprehensive global data exchanges for crypto.
For Korean residents trading overseas, things are changing too. Until now, only those holding more than KRW 500 million in foreign accounts were required to report. Under CARF, all trades by Korean nationals on international platforms will be reported to the National Tax Service, no matter the size.
Global Transparency and the Future of Crypto Taxation in Korea
Officials stressed that the initiative is about transparency, not immediate taxation. South Korea has already delayed domestic taxation on crypto gains until 2027, even as countries like Germany and the U.S. already apply taxes. The Ministry of Finance noted that CARF is meant to standardize reporting, helping tax authorities worldwide monitor offshore activity more effectively.
Meanwhile, it is also highlighted that South Korea signed onto the framework at the OECD Global Forum