South Korea Delays 20% Crypto Tax to 2026, Easing Investor Concerns

XRP has overtaken Bitcoin and Ethereum as South Korea’s retail trading favorite after traders exploited a spot-only exchange loophole, sending local volume sharply higher. The shift underscores divergent regional preferences and could alter price discovery and regulatory focus.

French regulators say nearly 30% of crypto firms have not applied for MiCA authorization ahead of a key compliance deadline, putting many operations at legal risk. The disclosure raises fresh concerns about enforcement and service continuity for customers.

Newrez LLC and Megatel Homes LLC disclosed plans to make cryptocurrencies a meaningful part of their strategies; Newrez will factor crypto holdings into mortgage risk assessments. The moves signal growing lender attention to crypto-native buyers and risk modeling for digital assets.

Google Play will require foreign crypto exchanges to obtain FIU VASP registration in South Korea by Jan. 28 or face removal from the store.

South Korea approved legislation on Jan. 16, 2026 to integrate tokenized securities into its capital markets, enabling blockchain-based trading and settlement. The move is intended to modernize infrastructure and could attract fintech firms and new issuers to local markets.