South Korea Misses Stablecoin Bill Deadline — Banks vs. Innovation Battle Heats Up

South Korea’s effort to legalize won-pegged stablecoins has hit another setback after the country’s top financial regulator missed a government-imposed deadline, exposing a deepening power struggle between financial authorities over who should control the next phase of digital finance.

Earlier this month, the ruling Democratic Party asked the Financial Services Commission to submit a draft stablecoin bill by December 10, fulfilling President Lee’s campaign pledge to create a legal framework for digital assets.

That deadline passed without a submission.

Stablecoin Disagreement Holds Up South Korea’s Crypto Bill

The South Korean media outlet Newsis reported that FSC later confirmed it was unable to deliver the proposal on time, saying it needed additional coordination with other agencies.

A spokesperson said the regulator would instead release the government’s position publicly alongside its formal submission to the National Assembly, citing the public’s right to understand the framework being proposed.

The FSC said it is preparing a draft tentatively titled the Basic Digital Asset Act, also described as Phase Two of South Korea’s virtual asset legislation.

Officials expect the proposal to be released later this month or early next month, ahead of a consolidated bill the ruling party has pledged to introduce in January 2026 under President Lee Jae-myung’s election commitments.

Behind the delay is an unresolved dispute between the FSC and the Bank of Korea over who should lead stablecoin issuance.

The central bank has argued that stablecoins function similarly to currency and deposit-like instruments and should therefore remain under bank control.

It has pushed for a rule requiring domestic banks to hold at least a 51% stake in any stablecoin-issuing entity, along with inspection powers and veto authority over approvals.

The FSC has resisted that approach, pointing to overseas models, noting that most issuers under the European Union’s MiCA framework are non-bank digital asset firms and that Japan’s first yen-linked stablecoin was issued by a fintech company.

FSC officials have said bank-led issuance lacks global precedent and could limit participation by technology firms that already operate digital payment infrastructure.

Negotiations between the FSC and the BOK remain ongoing. Officials familiar with the talks say a compromise may involve flexible ownership thresholds based on business scope, though no agreement has been confirmed.

The disagreement has stalled coordination long enough for lawmakers to begin reviewing multiple competing drafts at the National Assembly’s Political Affairs Committee.

Delays in Stablecoin Rules Raise Fears South Korea Is Falling Behind

Industry groups have warned that continued delays risk leaving South Korea behind jurisdictions such as the United States, the European Union, and Japan, all of which have already established stablecoin rules.

Domestic stablecoin issuance remain illegal in South Korea, even as companies prepare infrastructure behind the scenes.

Naver Financial has developed a blockchain wallet for Busan’s local currency program, while KakaoBank has begun work on a KRW-denominated digital token. Major banks have also explored a joint stablecoin project targeting late 2025 or early 2026.

Regulatory urgency has been heightened by recent enforcement challenges. In December, Korean authorities disclosed that Binance froze only a small portion of funds stolen during last month’s Upbit hack, despite urgent requests from police and the exchange.

Investigators said hackers rapidly laundered assets across chains and wallets, highlighting the difficulty of coordinating responses without clearer oversight frameworks.

Experts said the incident shows the need for faster, more structured controls as digital-asset activity expands.

South Korea’s stablecoin debate is also unfolding against a backdrop of delayed crypto policy more broadly. The country’s virtual asset tax regime, approved in 2020, has been postponed several times and is now scheduled for 2027.

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