Naver to Acquire Dunamu (Upbit) in $10.3B Deal, Spearheading AI and Blockchain Expansion in Global Crypto Payments

COINOTAG News reports that Naver, Korea’s internet conglomerate, is pursuing a landmark acquisition of Dunamu, operator of Upbit, through an all-stock transaction valued at about $10.3 billion. Regulatory filings show Naver Financial will issue 2.54 new Naver shares for each Dunamu share, signaling a push into blockchain and AI applications while expanding payments and settlement capabilities. Management also envisions a broader capital commitment, with roughly $7 billion earmarked for AI and blockchain initiatives to help forge a global framework across the financial sector.

If approved, the deal could accelerate liquidity and standardization across Korea’s fintech ecosystem, supported by enhanced risk controls and data-sharing capabilities. Regulators will scrutinize competition and financial integrity aspects, but a successful integration would position the combined group at the forefront of cross-border payments and enterprise-grade AI/blockchain deployments.