Key Takeaways
- • OKX Ventures and Korea Investment & Securities each invest 80 billion won ($53 million) to acquire approximately 19.6–20% stakes in Coinone, South Korea's third-largest cryptocurrency exchange, pending regulatory approval.
- • The transaction combines secondary share purchases from existing shareholders and new share subscriptions; it values Coinone at a significant multiple and positions both investors as joint third-largest shareholders.
- • Coinone CEO Cha Myunghun retains majority control with 27.8% ownership post-deal, while Com2uS Holdings maintains 25%; the structure preserves management continuity and existing founder influence.
- • The $106 million combined investment (160 billion won total) represents one of the largest recent capital injections by global crypto firms into South Korea's digital asset sector and signals institutional confidence in the Korean crypto market.
- • Coinone's strategic priorities include expansion into stablecoins and tokenized securities, with OKX Ventures' backing providing technology, liquidity, and international exchange network support to accelerate these initiatives.
Summary
OKX Ventures, the investment arm of global cryptocurrency exchange OKX, has confirmed a 80 billion won ($53 million) investment to acquire a 19.6% stake in Coinone, South Korea's third-largest crypto exchange. Korea Investment & Securities, one of South Korea's largest brokerages, is making an identical parallel investment of identical size and stake percentage. The deal was announced on May 29, 2026, and remains subject to regulatory approval.
The transaction will be structured through a combination of secondary share purchases from existing shareholders—including Cha Myunghun, Coinone's CEO, and Com2uS Holdings—as well as subscriptions for newly issued shares. The combined 160 billion-won capital infusion reflects strong institutional appetite for stakes in mature Korean crypto infrastructure. Upon completion, Cha Myunghun is expected to remain Coinone's largest individual shareholder with 27.8% ownership and will retain management control of the exchange. Com2uS Holdings and its affiliates will hold 25%, while OKX Ventures and Korea Investment & Securities will each become joint third-largest shareholders.
The deal formalizes discussions that were first reported publicly earlier in May, when speculation emerged about potential 20% stake acquisitions by OKX and Korea Investment & Securities. This investment marks a strategic deepening of OKX's presence in South Korea's crypto ecosystem and validates Coinone as a core platform for regional expansion. The capital will support Coinone's stated strategic priorities, including growth into stablecoins and tokenized securities—asset classes where regulatory clarity and institutional participation are expanding across Asia. OKX's backing provides Coinone with access to international liquidity pools, technology infrastructure, and the parent exchange's global network of institutional partners.
The deal demonstrates continued confidence in the Korean crypto market despite regulatory headwinds faced by the sector historically. At an implicit valuation derived from the stake and investment size, the transaction signals institutional validation of Coinone's market position and growth trajectory in one of Asia's largest and most sophisticated digital asset markets.
The transaction will be structured through a combination of secondary share purchases from existing shareholders—including Cha Myunghun, Coinone's CEO, and Com2uS Holdings—as well as subscriptions for newly issued shares. The combined 160 billion-won capital infusion reflects strong institutional appetite for stakes in mature Korean crypto infrastructure. Upon completion, Cha Myunghun is expected to remain Coinone's largest individual shareholder with 27.8% ownership and will retain management control of the exchange. Com2uS Holdings and its affiliates will hold 25%, while OKX Ventures and Korea Investment & Securities will each become joint third-largest shareholders.
The deal formalizes discussions that were first reported publicly earlier in May, when speculation emerged about potential 20% stake acquisitions by OKX and Korea Investment & Securities. This investment marks a strategic deepening of OKX's presence in South Korea's crypto ecosystem and validates Coinone as a core platform for regional expansion. The capital will support Coinone's stated strategic priorities, including growth into stablecoins and tokenized securities—asset classes where regulatory clarity and institutional participation are expanding across Asia. OKX's backing provides Coinone with access to international liquidity pools, technology infrastructure, and the parent exchange's global network of institutional partners.
The deal demonstrates continued confidence in the Korean crypto market despite regulatory headwinds faced by the sector historically. At an implicit valuation derived from the stake and investment size, the transaction signals institutional validation of Coinone's market position and growth trajectory in one of Asia's largest and most sophisticated digital asset markets.
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