Binance Very Close to South Korea Re-Entry, Authorities Review Gopax Acquisition

Core Insights - Binance is close to re-entering the South Korean market after a two-year delay, with local authorities reviewing its acquisition of Gopax [1][2] - The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) is assessing Gopax's report on executive changes, which is linked to Binance's 67% ownership stake [1][3] - The review process had been stalled due to anti-money laundering concerns but is now progressing positively, with potential approval by the end of 2025 [2][4] Regulatory Context - South Korean law does not have a separate mechanism for evaluating major shareholders in crypto exchanges; the FIU's executive review serves as a qualification test for Binance [3] - Binance acquired a majority stake in Gopax in February 2023 as part of a rescue plan following Gopax's liquidity crisis related to Genesis Global Capital's bankruptcy [3][4] - The review was previously delayed due to scrutiny from U.S. regulators, but a $4.3 billion settlement has alleviated some concerns from South Korean authorities [4] Market Sentiment - South Korean investors show strong interest in crypto-related assets, with approximately $1.24 billion invested in U.S. tech and crypto-linked stocks during the Chuseok holiday [5][6] - Notable investments included $105 million in Iris Energy shares, $96 million in Tesla, and $100 million in Meta, indicating robust demand for crypto-related investments [6]