X @BSCN

Regulatory Action - South Korea's Financial Services Commission (FSC) has ordered domestic exchanges to suspend all crypto lending programs, citing risks of user losses and operation in a legal gray zone [1] - Exchanges must comply with the FSC's order or face on-site inspections [1] - The FSC will allow existing contracts to be repaid or extended but has barred fresh lending [3] - The regulator plans to formalize digital asset lending with new guidelines once user safeguards are in place [3] Market Impact - Approximately 27,600 investors borrowed ₩1.5 trillion (approximately $1.1 billion) in the first month of one firm's lending program [2] - About 13% of the loans were liquidated due to price swings [2] - The FSC flagged market disruption, citing an abnormal USDT sell-off linked to the new lending services [2] Lending Program Details - Upbit allowed users to borrow up to 80% of their deposits against BTC, XRP, or USDT [2] - Bithumb offered loans worth up to four times collateral [2] Future Outlook - South Korea is shifting towards structured crypto regulation, preparing spot ETFs, easing institutional curbs, and drafting a stablecoin framework pegged to the won [3] - Leveraged lending is currently on pause but not ruled out in the future [3]