The barrier to accessing foreign crypto exchanges for Korean investors is set to rise noticeably. Korea's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), part of the Financial Services Commission, reported that on August 11, 2026, the Cabinet approved amendments to the enforcement decree on specific financial information. The document tightens the anti-money-laundering rules for transactions with foreign crypto exchanges.
Some of the new requirements will take effect six months after official publication.
New rules for transfers to foreign crypto exchanges
Korean crypto exchanges will have to differentiate the permitted operations depending on the risk level of the foreign platform. Assets can be sent freely to low-risk exchanges. For other foreign exchanges and private wallets, transfers will mostly be allowed where the sender and the recipient are the same person.
When sending funds to a high-risk foreign exchange, or in cases where a party to the transaction is difficult to identify unambiguously, the Korean exchange may additionally ask the user to confirm ownership of the foreign account and explain the purpose of the transfer. If the required data cannot be confirmed, the operation may be delayed or rejected.
For an investor, this means having to document proof that the account on the foreign exchange was opened in their own name, as well as disclose the source of funds and the purpose of the transaction.
Bybit and OKX are already unavailable on Korea's Google Play
The availability of foreign exchanges in Korea had declined even before the amendments were approved.
Korean investors have actively used foreign exchanges for futures trading — a service not available on local platforms. To operate abroad, one must first buy USDT or another cryptocurrency on a Korean exchange and then transfer the asset to a foreign platform. It is precisely this step that falls under the new regulation.
A representative of the Korean crypto industry told the outlet that rising requirements, against the backdrop of a limited set of local services, could result in activity spilling over into informal channels:
«Demand for foreign exchanges is not going anywhere, and excessive regulation will only lead to a rise in P2P deals and informal routes,» he said.
