KIS Begins Negotiations for Coinone Share Investment

KIS in Talks with Regulators for Coinone Share Acquisition

South Korean brokerage firm Korea Investment & Securities (KIS) has begun discussions with regulators and politicians for a potential share investment in the crypto exchange Coinone. According to reports from Korea Herald and Hankyung, no agreement has been finalized yet. Coinone also stated that no specific transaction decision has been made. KIS achieved a net profit of 2 trillion won (approximately 1.3 billion dollars) in 2025 and is a strong candidate for this investment.

Coinone volume by market pair. Source: CoinGecko

South Korean Regulations Are Shaping the BTC Market

This development is occurring under a proposal that will limit major shareholders' stakes in local crypto exchanges in South Korea to 20 percent. Coinone Chairman Cha Myung-hoon owns 53.44% of the exchange, which may lead to share sales; if the law is enacted, a three-year compliance period will be granted. Competitor Mirae Asset Group got approval for acquiring controlling shares in Korbit. Naver Financial, however, postponed its plan to acquire Upbit operator Dunamu due to regulatory reviews. A large portion of Coinone's volume comes from BTC detailed analysis pairs, making the investment strategic.

KIS Investment Could Revitalize BTC Futures Trading

South Korea is at the center of Asia's BTC-dominated markets. The entry of strong players like KIS could increase BTC futures trading volume and strengthen BTC spot market liquidity. Although still in early stages, regulatory clarity is expected in 2026.