[비즈한국] The market is buzzing with rumors of Mirae Asset Group’s acquisition of a virtual asset exchange. Mirae Asset has shown its determination to enter the digital asset business by announcing 'Mirae Asset 3.0', a future finance vision that fuses traditional finance with digital assets. As Mirae Asset, which previously attempted to enter the virtual asset custody business through its non-financial affiliate Mirae Asset Consulting, now attempts to acquire a KRW-based exchange, attention is focused on whether it can overcome the 'separation of finance and virtual assets' principle.
According to the industry, Mirae Asset Group has set out to acquire Korbit, the fourth-largest virtual asset exchange in Korea, through its affiliate Mirae Asset Consulting. Mirae Asset Consulting is reportedly in negotiations to acquire the stakes held by Korbit's major shareholders, NXC and SK Planet. According to the disclosure of large business groups (as of May), NXC, the holding company of Nexon, holds a 45.56% stake in Korbit, which increases to 60.78% when including the stakes of the same person. A 31.5% stake was held by SK Square402340 but was recently transferred to its subsidiary, SK Planet.
Mirae Asset Consulting, which is attempting to acquire Korbit, is a company dedicated to real estate leasing and management, infrastructure financial consulting, and the operation of lodging and auxiliary facilities, and is considered a non-financial affiliate within the group. This is interpreted as putting forward a non-financial affiliate in consideration of the 'separation of finance and virtual assets' principle, which prohibits the integration of traditional finance and virtual assets. Mirae Asset Consulting is an owner-run company in which Chairman Park Hyeon-joo of Mirae Asset Group holds a 48.49% stake and his spouse, Kim Mi-kyung, holds a 10.15% stake.
Mirae Asset is attempting to expand its business into the digital asset sector. In 2022, it attempted to establish 'Digital X', a corporation specializing in virtual asset custody under Mirae Asset Consulting, but postponed the launch due to unfavorable market conditions such as the Terra-Luna crisis that occurred that year. As the market rebounded with the rise of stablecoins, Mirae Asset showed signs of preparing for the business again. In June 2025, they filed for a stablecoin-related trademark with Mirae Asset Consulting as the applicant, and also filed for the 'Digital X' trademark. The Digital X trademark was filed in May 2022 and registered two years later, but it was re-filed this year with a changed product classification.
The group’s core affiliate, Mirae Asset Securities006800, has already developed its own mainnet and built infrastructure for the issuance and distribution of token securities in preparation for the legalization of token securities. In August 2025, the Digital Asset Platform Team hired personnel to be in charge of asset issuance and distribution, platform design, custody and wallet integration, and blockchain network design and operation, preparing for entry into the virtual asset market.
Chairman Park Hyeon-joo's will is also strong. At an event celebrating the achievement of 1,000 trillion KRW in client assets in October 2025, Chairman Park remarked, “Now is the time for digital-based financial innovation,” adding, “Mirae Asset will grow into a company that leads the digital finance era.” Following this, Mirae Asset Group announced its vision, 'Mirae Asset 3.0', which makes future finance that fuses traditional assets and digital assets the next growth engine, along with organizational restructuring. Mirae Asset stated, “We plan to proactively prepare for digital-based financial innovation,” and “We will proactively promote Web3-based businesses domestically and internationally with the goal of building a global digital wallet.”
However, it is uncertain whether the Korbit acquisition race will be completed smoothly. This is because Mirae Asset, an investment-specialized group, is acquiring a stake in a virtual asset operator indirectly. In the 'Emergency Measures for Virtual Currencies' announced at the end of 2017, the government prohibited financial institutions from holding, purchasing, providing collateral for, or investing in virtual assets, a stance that has been maintained in the form of administrative guidance for over eight years.
However, as cases of traditional finance and private companies participating in the virtual asset market increase in overseas markets, especially in the US, voices calling for deregulation in Korea are growing. Although the separation of finance and virtual assets principle was recently discussed again due to the Naver Financial-Dunamu merger, financial authorities remain cautious, stating that overseas cases and the impact on the soundness of domestic financial firms should be considered.
An official from the financial investment industry pointed out, “Regulations like the separation of finance and virtual assets are weakening the competitiveness of domestic companies and widening the gap with overseas companies. If it continues, it will be difficult to narrow the gap,” adding, “Regulation needs to be eased for the growth and popularization of the virtual asset market.”
There are also expectations that the separation of finance and virtual assets principle will be eased ahead of the introduction of the Basic Act on Digital Assets (Phase 2 Virtual Asset Act). It is known that the ruling party will also review the principle along with legislative discussions. Furthermore, since the current Capital Markets Act does not recognize virtual assets as underlying assets, it is impossible to list Bitcoin spot ETFs in Korea, and it remains to be seen whether they will be integrated into the institutional sphere after the legislation.
The parties involved are remaining tight-lipped regarding this acquisition. NXC, the largest shareholder of Korbit, did not express any particular stance, and Mirae Asset Group stated, “It is in the discussion stage and nothing has been decided.” Korbit conveyed, “Since this is something being carried out at the shareholder level, it is difficult to confirm (the acquisition status).”