South Korea’s Largest Crypto Exchange Upbit Sold — Key Details and Timeline Explained

Core Insights - South Korea's largest tech company, Naver, is in the final stages of acquiring Dunamu, the operator of Upbit, which handles over 70% of the country's crypto trading [2][4] - The merger is expected to significantly impact the digital finance landscape in South Korea, marking one of the most important tech-crypto mergers in Asia [2][4] Company Developments - Naver's board is set to vote next week on the acquisition plan, which will involve a stock-swap arrangement managed by Naver Financial, its fintech division [3][7] - Dunamu's board is scheduled to meet on November 26 to finalize the terms of the acquisition [3][4] Financial Structure - The anticipated swap ratio for the acquisition is approximately 1:3 or 1:4, reflecting Dunamu's multibillion-dollar valuation [4] - Following board approvals, both companies will need to obtain shareholder consent before proceeding with the integration [4] Strategic Initiatives - The merger is expected to enhance Naver's digital finance initiatives, including a won-backed stablecoin project that has been under exploration since mid-2025 [4][6] - Naver and Dunamu began collaborating on a won-pegged stablecoin in July 2025, integrating it into Naver Pay, South Korea's largest mobile payment service [6] Market Reaction - Naver's stock experienced a rise of 7-11% amid growing speculation about the acquisition, indicating investor optimism regarding a stronger position in Korea's digital asset ecosystem [9]