South Korea’s Top Bank To Launch Crypto ETFs

The asset management arm of South Korea’s Kookmin Bank is planning to study and launch crypto derivates and ETFs

article-image

Seoul, South Korea | Source: Shutterstock

share

key takeaways

  • South Korea’s largest bank wants to explore and launch crypto ETFs “as quickly as possible”
  • The bank said it was preparing for the preemptive launch of related products through domestic and overseas digital asset market research

The asset management arm of South Korea’s largest bank announced Monday the launch of a committee to help study and develop crypto derivative products and ETFs.

KB Kookmin Bank’s asset management arm said its new Digital Asset Management Preparatory Committee will plan for preparations to launch its crypto products headquartered under the arm’s Index Quant Operation division.

KB is hoping to jump into the fast-moving industry via its crypto offerings “as quickly as possible” following “deregulation in Korea,” a rough translation of the company’s statement reads.

Two of South Korea’s presidential candidates are reportedly seeking to unban initial coin offerings following their potential election wins next month. The hope is that these candidates would bring a more relaxed regulatory environment in a country that currently imposes strict crypto laws.

The bank said it was planning to prepare for the preemptive launch of related products through domestic and overseas digital asset market research.

In addition to its crypto index funds, KB Asset Management said it will pivot from traditional asset correlation in the retirement-pension and OCIO markets to a principal guaranteed asset allocation fund using overseas crypto.

“We will launch virtual asset-themed equity funds as soon as possible,” said Hong-Gon Kim, head of KB Asset Management’s Index Quant Management division. “We plan to hold a virtual asset conference for customers and publish periodicals.”

KB Kookmin is the country’s largest bank by net profit. The bank’s holding company, KB Financial Group, clocked a total 457.3 trillion South Korean won ($382.7 billion) in assets under management by Q4, 2021, according to its latest earnings report.


Start your day with top crypto insights from David Canellis and Katherine Ross. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter.

Explore the growing intersection between crypto, macroeconomics, policy and finance with Ben Strack, Casey Wagner and Felix Jauvin. Subscribe to the Forward Guidance newsletter.

Get alpha directly in your inbox with the 0xResearch newsletter — market highlights, charts, degen trade ideas, governance updates, and more.

The Lightspeed newsletter is all things Solana, in your inbox, every day. Subscribe to daily Solana news from Jack Kubinec and Jeff Albus.

Tags

Upcoming Events

Javits Center North | 445 11th Ave

Tues - Thurs, March 18 - 20, 2025

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

Brooklyn, NY

TUES - THURS, JUNE 24 - 26, 2025

Permissionless IV serves as the definitive gathering for crypto’s technical founders, developers, and builders to come together and create the future.If you’re ready to shape the future of crypto, Permissionless IV is where it happens.

Old Billingsgate

Mon - Wed, October 13 - 15, 2025

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

recent research

Flashnote Template (6).png

Research

Trading of the President's TRUMP memecoin sent the market capitalization to over $15B, resulting in all-time highs for Solana’s Real Economic Value, DEX volumes, and stablecoin supply. This event further validates Solana as the venue for high-throughput onchain activity, with Solana DEXs and DeFi applications as primary beneficiaries, while also signaling to further experimentation, utilization, and adoption of memecoins as legitimate financial instruments for speculation, crowdfunding, or capital formation. President Trump’s continued willingness to experiment in crypto reaffirms a highly-favorable political and regulatory climate for the industry.

article-image

The new task force shows that crypto’s officially entering a new era

article-image

After seven long years, ICOs could be back on the menu

article-image

The Solana network housed around $6.1 billion stablecoins on Friday, according to Blockworks Research data

article-image

CEO Kris Marszalek touted the new platform’s “deep liquidity [and] stable banking rails” among other notable features

article-image

Circle acquired the company responsible for creating the largest tokenized money market fund

article-image

During his first 12 hours in office, Donald Trump issued a flurry of expected and symbolic presidential actions