South Korea mulls virtual currency exchange shutdown
South Korea is considering shutting down all local virtual currency exchanges, the country's finance regulator chief said Thursday.
Answering MP questions from the country's National Assembly in a national policy committee meeting, Choi Jong-ku, head of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), said the government was considering "both options" of either shutting down all virtual currency exchanges or the ones that are breaking the law.
special report
He also stressed that virtual currencies were not financial services or products. Businesses or institutes in finance in South Korea are not allowed to own or invest in services that are not deemed by the FSC to be financial services or services, and are therefore not allowed to own virtual currencies.
In a separate press conference, Bank of Korea chief Lee Ju-yeol said virtual currencies cannot be considered currencies and that regulation is needed to protect consumers.
Bitcoin prices took a sharp downturn on Wednesday due to fears of a crackdown from South Korea, falling below $10,000, half the price of its peak a month ago.
Last month, the South Korea's justice minister announced that the country was planning to ban virtual currency trading, but other agencies said nothing has been finalized.
Involved ministries, however, concur there is a need for regulation.
Fear of regulation has prompted a petition to the Blue House, South Korea's equivalent of the US' White House, that the government not ban virtual currency trading.
On Monday, the country's technology minister had to quell fears that there will be more regulations on blockchain as well, saying that blockchain and virtual currency must be viewed separately.
PREVIOUS AND RELATED COVERAGE
<="" p="" rel="follow">
- <="" p="" rel="follow"> <="" p="" rel="follow">
<="" p="" rel="follow"><="" p="" rel="follow"> <="" p="" rel="follow">Petition against bitcoin crackdown to Korean president reaches 200,000
A petition to the Blue House, South Korea's presidential residence, demanding a stop to regulating virtual currency has reached 200,000 signatures and will now get an official response.
Korean tech minister seeks to quell blockchain fears amid bitcoin crackdown
South Korea's technology minister says blockchain will not be affected by the government's recent crackdown on virtual currency trading.
South Korea to tax Bitcoin profits, ban foreigners from trading
Foreigners and minors will be prevented from creating accounts or trading virtual currencies in South Korea, the government said, while it will also tax profits for investors.
South Korea bans digital currency offerings
Virtual currencies have taken a hit in South Korea, as financial authorities have banned initial coin offering (ICO) and credit exposures that use digital currencies.
Why more companies will be betting on Bitcoin in 2018(TechRepublic)
Many organizations are still reluctant to trust blockchain technology, however others have found good use cases for it apart from Bitcoin.