South Korean Agencies Divided Over Strategic Bitcoin Reserves, Lawmaker Calls for Minimal Crypto Regulation

South Korea’s key financial and regulatory institutions are split on whether the country should create a strategic Bitcoin reserve, according to Democratic Party lawmaker Ahn Do-geol.

Ahn, a former Vice Minister of Strategy and Finance, highlighted in a recent address that various government bodies—including the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the Bank of Korea (BOK), the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the National Pension Service (NPS), and the Korea Investment Corporation—hold differing views on state-level crypto investments.

The Ministry of Strategy and Finance has adopted a wait-and-see approach, labeling the crypto space as still being in a “transitional period.” The BOK has been more cautious, citing Bitcoin’s volatility and incompatibility with the IMF’s criteria for foreign exchange reserves.

The FSC appears more open, citing reports from the Virtual Asset Committee exploring the possibility of setting digital asset reserve standards. Meanwhile, both the NPS and Korea Investment Corporation have said they will not consider Bitcoin investments until proper legal frameworks are established.

Ahn urged the government to introduce “minimal regulations” to support investor protection and spur growth in the domestic crypto sector. He called for policies that include clear guidelines for security tokens, approval of spot crypto ETFs, issuance of won-backed stablecoins, and a tax system for local traders.

He also emphasized that cryptocurrencies should be viewed not as speculative tools, but as a foundational part of South Korea’s financial future.