OKX Ventures, KIS Inject $106M into South Korea’s Coinone

Major Investment Boosts South Korean Crypto Exchange Coinone

South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Coinone has secured a significant capital injection, with OKX Ventures, the investment arm of global crypto exchange OKX, and Korea Investment & Securities (KIS), one of South Korea’s largest brokerages, jointly investing KRW 160 billion (approximately $106 million USD). Each entity will acquire a 19.6% stake in Coinone.

“This investment underscores a growing confidence in the South Korean digital asset market’s potential and its regulated environment. It’s a strategic move that could significantly strengthen Coinone’s position and foster further development of the crypto industry in the region,” commented James Lee, an independent FinTech analyst.

Deal Structure and Shareholder Landscape

The total KRW 160 billion deal is structured through a combination of secondary share purchases from existing shareholders and subscriptions for newly issued shares. Upon completion of the transaction, which remains subject to regulatory approval, Coinone’s ownership structure will be as follows:

• Coinone CEO Cha Myunghun is expected to remain the largest shareholder with a 27.8% stake, retaining management control.
• Com2uS Holdings and its affiliates will hold 25%.
• OKX Ventures and KIS will become joint third-largest shareholders, each holding 19.6%.

This transaction represents one of the largest recent investments by global crypto firms into South Korea’s digital asset sector, signaling robust interest in this dynamic market.