OKX Acquires 20% Stake in Coinone: Korea’s Biggest Crypto Exchange Deal of 2026

OKX just made its boldest move yet into the Korean crypto market — and if you’re a crypto trader, this is news you need to read.

On May 29, 2026, OKX Ventures and Korea Investment & Securities signed a landmark strategic investment deal, each acquiring approximately 20% of Coinone — South Korea’s third-largest cryptocurrency exchange — for ₩80 billion (approx. $58M USD) each, totaling ₩160 billion ($116M USD) for a combined 40% stake.

The signing ceremony took place at Coinone’s headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, and brought together executives from all four major stakeholders: Coinone, Com2uS Holdings, Korea Investment Securities, and OKX.

Here’s the ownership structure after regulatory approval:

The deal involves a mix of existing share purchases and new share issuance, designed to maximize fresh capital flowing directly into Coinone. Despite the major ownership shift, Coinone CEO Cha Myung-hoon retains his position as the largest single shareholder, with no change in operational management.

1. OKX Is Going Fully Legal in Korea

This investment mirrors the strategy Binance used when it acquired Gopax (South Korea’s 5th largest exchange). OKX is securing a licensed, regulated foothold in one of the world’s most mature crypto markets — without the regulatory headaches of starting from scratch.

“South Korea is one of the most mature digital asset markets in the world, and its regulatory framework is highly regarded on the global stage.” — Neterro Dai, OKX Global Markets Director

For OKX users and referral partners, this signals long-term commitment to the Korean market — with more products, deeper liquidity, and stronger compliance infrastructure on the way.

2. Traditional Finance Meets Crypto Infrastructure

Korea Investment Securities isn’t just a passive investor. The firm is bringing its full weight of institutional-grade compliance systems — including Anti-Money Laundering (AML), suspicious transaction detection, and risk management frameworks — directly into Coinone’s operations.

The joint roadmap includes:

• Security Token Offerings (STO) — tokenized financial products
• Stablecoin services aligned with upcoming Korean legislation
• Institutional and derivatives market expansion

This is a major signal that TradFi and DeFi are merging in Korea, faster than most expected.

3. A Vote of Confidence in Korea’s Crypto Regulation

Both OKX and Korea Investment Securities publicly praised Korea’s regulatory environment. In an era where many global exchanges shy away from strict jurisdictions, this investment is a direct endorsement of Korea’s crypto legal framework — and positions Coinone for growth as new digital asset laws take effect.

The four companies — Coinone, Com2uS Holdings, Korea Investment Securities, and OKX — are scheduled to hold a joint press conference in June 2026, where they will detail the strategic rationale, timelines, and expected market impact of the partnership.

Key milestones to watch:

• ✅ Regulatory approval for the major shareholder change (FSC/FSS review)
• 📅 Joint press conference — June 2026
• 🚀 STO and stablecoin product launches (timeline TBD)
• 🌐 OKX integration with Coinone infrastructure

OKX’s investment in a Korean licensed exchange means:

• More regulatory certainty for Korean OKX users
• Potential product expansion — STOs, stablecoins, institutional products
• Stronger brand trust in the Korean market
• Better long-term liquidity and trading options

If you haven’t tried OKX yet, now is a great time to get started while the platform grows its Korean ecosystem.

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The OKX–Coinone deal is one of the most significant events in Korean crypto in 2026. It validates Korea as a top-tier market, brings Wall Street-level compliance into crypto, and sets the stage for tokenized securities and stablecoins to go mainstream.

Whether you’re a seasoned trader or just getting started, having an account on OKX positions you at the center of this rapidly evolving ecosystem.