Kiwoom Securities In Talks To Buy Stake In Bithumb Exchange

South Korean financial giant Kiwoom Securities is in talks to acquire a stake in Bithumb, the country’s second largest crypto exchange, according to a Monday report . The discussions reportedly involve a third-party share allocation, where Bithumb would issue new shares for Kiwoom to purchase. Details like investment size and stake percentage remain under negotiation, and both companies haven’t responded to comment requests.

Part Of A Bigger Trend

This follows a string of similar moves by major South Korean institutions. Hana Bank disclosed last month it would acquire a $670 million stake in Dunamu, the company behind Upbit. Three Samsung subsidiaries also bought roughly $407.7 million in Dunamu shares in May, giving them a combined 4% stake.

Overseas players are circling too, with OKX Ventures buying 19.6% of Coinone and Binance completing its Gopax acquisition after years of delays.

Regulation Could Shape Future Deals

South Korea is developing the Digital Asset Basic Act, a comprehensive crypto framework that’s been stalled most of this year but may advance in the second half. The bill could cap single shareholder stakes at 20%, with exceptions allowing up to 34% under special circumstances. Meanwhile, Bithumb is preparing for an IPO, having signed an advisory deal with Samjong KPMG through 2027, with its CFO confirming a likely 2028 listing.