The South Korean government has removed virtual asset trading and intermediary businesses from the list of restricted industries for venture enterprises.

Jinse Finance reported that virtual asset trading and intermediary businesses will be removed from the list of restricted industries for risk enterprises. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups of South Korea (referred to as the "Ministry of SMEs and Startups") announced on the 9th that, at a State Council meeting held at the Yongsan Presidential Office, a partial amendment to the "Enforcement Decree of the Special Act on Fostering Risk Enterprises" containing the above content was reviewed and approved. This amendment will officially take effect from the 16th. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups explained that this revision of the enforcement decree takes into account changes in the global status of the virtual asset industry and the strengthening of domestic user protection systems in South Korea, aiming to lay the foundation for the formal cultivation of core deep-tech industries in the digital asset ecosystem, such as blockchain and crypto technology. The Ministry also pointed out that, globally, the United States approved the listing of spot bitcoin ETFs in January last year, and in July of the same year implemented comprehensive stablecoin regulatory laws, indicating that the trend of recognizing virtual assets as a formal industry is taking shape.