South Korea Joins Global Bitcoin Spot ETF Push, Targets 2026 Rollout
South Korea has introduced plans to introduce Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in 2026 as a part of broader digital asset reforms.
South Korea Using US & Hong Kong Crypto Spot ETFs As A Reference
South Korea revealed in its 2026 Economic Growth Strategy plans to permit spot digital asset ETFs this yr, in response to Wu Blockchain, citing native media outlet News1.
Spot ETFs are funding autos that enable merchants to realize publicity to an underlying asset with out having to instantly personal it. Such autos commerce within the conventional markets, so buyers of a spot ETF tied to a cryptocurrency by no means must work together with blockchain parts like wallets and exchanges.
Instead, the funds purchase and custody the property on behalf of buyers. In current years, spot ETFs tied to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin have gained adoption in numerous areas of the world as DeFi and TradFi intersect.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accredited spot ETFs for Bitcoin in January 2024 and Ethereum in July 2024, whereas the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) allowed each in April 2024. Approvals associated to altcoins like Solana adopted in 2025.
Now, it could seem that South Korea can be seeking to be a part of the fray. Per the report, the nation’s authorities has explicitly cited the digital asset spot ETF markets lively within the US and Hong Kong as key reference factors. Plans associated to identify ETFs aren’t all that South Korea has introduced. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) of the nation can be accelerating the following part of its digital asset laws, which can set up a framework for stablecoins.
In the East Asian bloc, different governments have already made progress on stablecoins. Hong Kong enacted its stablecoin laws in August, whereas Japan noticed the launch of its first yen-backed token in October. While South Korea has set a timeframe of 2026, it’s unknown when precisely spot ETFs might be launched. As such, it solely stays to be seen what plans the federal government will reveal subsequent and which property apart from Bitcoin might be lined.
Speaking of spot Bitcoin ETFs, these funds have been going through outflows within the US lately, as knowledge from SoSoValue reveals.
From the chart, it’s seen that the Bitcoin spot ETF weekly netflow has principally been destructive because the cryptocurrency’s decline began in October. There had been a couple of weeks that noticed a constructive worth, however the scale of internet inflows remained restricted.
The netflow for the most recent week has stood at a destructive $431 million, which means that the US funds are persevering with to bleed.
BTC Price
Bitcoin has erased a few of its current positive aspects as its worth has retraced again to $90,500.
