[비즈한국] Mirae Asset Group has acquired Korbit, the fourth-largest KRW-based virtual asset exchange in South Korea. Mirae Asset Consulting, a non-financial affiliate of the group, acquired a 92.06% stake in Korbit for approximately 133.5 billion KRW on the 13th. Observers note that the group's 'Mirae Asset 3.0' strategy, aimed at converging traditional finance with digital assets, has now entered the execution phase. However, proposed legislation in the National Assembly to limit the equity holdings of major shareholders in virtual asset exchanges has emerged as a new variable.
Mirae Asset Consulting announced on the 13th that it had acquired a 92.06% stake (approximately 26.9 million shares) in Korbit for 133.5 billion KRW. The acquisition was made via cash payment, and the purpose was stated as "securing future growth engines based on digital assets." It was known that Mirae Asset Group was discussing the stake acquisition for Korbit at the end of 2025, and this has now led to an actual takeover (Related article: Mirae Asset Chairman Park Hyeon-joo's 'Digital Gamble,' Entering the Korbit Acquisition Race...).
On the same day, SK Planet, Korbit's second-largest shareholder, also announced that it had disposed of all 9.22 million of its shares in Korbit. SK Planet stated, "Under the shareholders' agreement with Korbit's largest shareholder, we hold tag-along rights," adding, "As the largest shareholder sold its shares to a third party, we exercised our tag-along rights." Korbit's shares were previously held by Nexon's holding company, NXC, and SK Planet, at 60.78% and 31.5% respectively.
Mirae Asset Consulting is a non-financial affiliate of Mirae Asset Group that engages in real estate leasing and management, infrastructure financial advisory services, and the operation of lodging and auxiliary facilities. Mirae Asset Group Chairman Park Hyeon-joo holds a 48.49% stake, and his wife, Kim Mi-kyung, holds a 10.15% stake.
Mirae Asset Group has actively entered the digital asset market, adopting 'Mirae Asset 3.0'—a vision of future finance that converges traditional and digital assets—as its core group strategy. In his global New Year's address at the end of January, Chairman Park announced the group's key strategies: building a digital asset investment network through tokenization and global investment networks, accelerating digital asset management through AI and platforms, and reinvesting in future growth engines.
Chairman Park emphasized, "The acquisition of a virtual asset exchange in Korea is a preemptive decision toward the future of finance. We will create a digital asset investment network that connects the world by tokenizing all the group's investment assets, ranging from traditional and alternative assets to virtual assets." In January, the 'Act on Electronic Registration of Stocks, Bonds, etc. (Electronic Securities Act),' which allows for the issuance and distribution of Security Token Offerings (STO), passed the plenary session. If the legislation is implemented starting in 2027, the path to achieving Mirae Asset's goal of 'tokenization of all assets' will be opened.
Among its affiliates, Mirae Asset Securities006800 is taking the lead. In August of last year, Mirae Asset Securities recruited personnel for its digital asset platform team to handle tasks such as digital asset issuance and distribution, platform design, and blockchain network design and operation, with related achievements beginning to emerge. Recently, media reports indicated that Mirae Asset Securities has completed testing of its cryptocurrency wallet.
At the end of January, it garnered attention by issuing a 100 billion KRW digital bond, a first in the country. The bonds were issued in the amounts of 325 million Hong Kong Dollars (HKD) and 30 million US Dollars (USD), respectively. A digital bond refers to a bond issued and distributed based on blockchain and distributed ledger technology. The entire process, including bond issuance, interest payments, and redemption, can be automated, and transaction history remains on the blockchain, ensuring transparency.
In its Q4 2025 conference call, Mirae Asset Securities stated, "We will evolve our Mobile Trading System (MTS) into a core infrastructure based on digital wallets, allowing it to go beyond traditional asset trading platforms to facilitate the trading of new digital assets."
With Mirae Asset Group acquiring Korbit, one of only five virtual asset exchanges in the country that handles KRW, attention is focused on whether the market landscape will shift. Although Korbit is fourth in the industry and relatively small in scale, it was the first exchange established and is capable of stable operation. On the 6th, the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) approved the renewal of Korbit's Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) status, resolving uncertainties regarding its operations. Under the Act on Reporting and Using Specified Financial Transaction Information, virtual asset service providers must renew their VASP status every three years. Furthermore, it successfully extended its real-name account contract with Shinhan Bank for another year at the end of 2025.
Market expectations are also high. After Mirae Asset Securities' conference call, Kiwoom Securities analyst Ahn Young-jun pointed out, "They are preparing for the asset tokenization market, including security token platforms and digital wallets, and we expect them to secure differentiated competitiveness in the newly opening market. They will likely take the lead in the asset tokenization market."
However, recent discussions in the National Assembly regarding limits on major shareholder equity in virtual asset exchanges represent a potential negative factor. It is reported that financial authorities have submitted a bill for the second phase of virtual asset legislation that would cap major shareholder stakes at 15–20%. With Mirae Asset Consulting having secured a stake of over 90% in Korbit, it would be forced to sell most of its shares if the equity cap regulation is actually enacted.