A senior South Korean lawmaker is facing mounting scrutiny after local media reported that he aggressively questioned the country’s largest cryptocurrency exchange while his son was securing a role at its main rival, raising renewed concerns about conflicts of interest at the intersection of politics and the crypto industry. Kim Byung-kee, floor leader of the Democratic Party and a member of the National Assembly’s Political Affairs Committee, has been accused of pressuring Dunamu, the operator of Upbit, ...

Core Viewpoint - The competition for stablecoin dominance between South Korea's tech giants Naver and Kakao is intensifying, with both companies leveraging their existing platforms to drive adoption in sectors like K-pop, e-commerce, and webtoons [1][2]. Group 1: Naver's Strategy - Naver is positioned to gain an advantage in the stablecoin market due to its acquisition of Upbit, which is expected to enhance its crypto capabilities [3]. - Naver aims to integrate its stablecoin with its existing e-pay platform, Naver Pay, and the Upbit exchange, potentially launching on the Giwachain blockchain [4][5]. - The stablecoin will also be utilized on Naver's shopping and webtoon platforms, and integrated with its video streaming service CHZZK for content monetization [5][6]. Group 2: Kakao's Approach - Kakao, known for its KakaoTalk app and Kakao Bank, is also exploring stablecoin issuance, potentially leveraging its partnership with Coinone, a competitor to Upbit [7]. - There are speculations about Kakao considering a takeover of Coinone to strengthen its position in the stablecoin market [7].

The hack adds to Dunamu's ongoing regulatory woes. Earlier in November, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) under Korea's Financial Services Commission levied a record 35.2 billion KRW fine ($26.5 million) on the exchange operator for violating requirements on the reporting and use of specified financial transaction information. This is the heaviest penalty the FIU has issued to a crypto firm.Market observers noted the sophistication of the operation. One analyst tracking the fund's movements in real time ...

Core Viewpoint - Naver Financial has agreed to acquire Dunamu, operator of Upbit, South Korea's largest cryptocurrency exchange, in an all-stock deal valued at 15.13 trillion won ($10.27 billion) to secure future growth in digital assets [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition involves Naver's fintech subsidiary issuing 2.54 shares for every one share of Dunamu [2]. - This deal is one of the largest in Asia for the year and aims to enhance Naver's growth in the booming cryptocurrency market [1][2]. Group 2: Market Position and Synergy - Upbit holds approximately 70% market share in South Korea's cryptocurrency exchange market and is highly profitable [3]. - Naver is expected to leverage its user traffic to drive engagement with Upbit, targeting primarily the younger generation [3]. Group 3: Market Reaction and Future Plans - Following the acquisition announcement, Naver's shares initially rose by over 7% but later fell by 4.2% due to concerns over a significant cryptocurrency withdrawal from Upbit [4][5]. - Naver's CEO indicated that there are no immediate plans for a Nasdaq listing, emphasizing a focus on enhancing shareholder value if such a decision is made in the future [4].

Core Insights - Naver is moving closer to acquiring Upbit, South Korea's largest crypto exchange, with board meetings scheduled for November 26 to confirm a stock swap deal with Dunamu, the operator of Upbit [1][2] Company Developments - Naver's founder and chair, Lee Hae-jin, will explain the merger plan at the board meeting and hold a press conference on November 27, alongside Dunamu CEO Song Chi-hyung [2] - The merger details, first revealed in September, indicate that Naver, with a market cap of $39.2 billion, will gain control of Dunamu [2] Financial Details - Upbit's trading volumes exceeded $2 billion in the past 24 hours, indicating significant market activity [3] - The merger will involve a stock swap where Dunamu shareholders will exchange their shares for newly issued Naver Financial shares at a ratio of 1:3, resulting in Dunamu becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Naver Financial [4][5] Regulatory Environment - Regulatory challenges may arise as South Korean lawmakers have raised concerns about Upbit's dominant position in the crypto market, with Upbit holding a 71.6% share of total domestic crypto trading volumes in the first half of 2026 [6]

🚨JUST IN: DUNAMU, THE PARENT OF UPBIT, IS PREPARING FOR A US DEBUT AFTER COMPLETING ITS MERGER WITH NAVER - SEOUL ECONOMIC DAILY ...

Core Insights - Dunamu and Naver Financial are merging to create a financial entity valued at approximately $13.8 billion (20 trillion won) [1] - The merger is expected to pursue a Nasdaq listing, potentially increasing the valuation to at least $34.5 billion (50 trillion won) if it successfully attracts global investor interest [2] - The merger aims to enhance both companies' positions in the stablecoin market, with Dunamu planning a won-backed stablecoin and leveraging Naver Pay as the lead issuer [5][6] Company Details - The merger involves a stock swap where Dunamu shareholders will exchange their shares for Naver Financial stock at an estimated ratio of 1:3.3 to 3.4, making Dunamu a wholly owned subsidiary of Naver [3] - Post-merger, Naver's ownership stake will decrease from 69% to 17%, while Dunamu will delegate more than half of its voting rights to Naver to comply with monopoly regulations [4] - Dunamu's Chairman and Vice Chairman will become the largest shareholders of the combined entity, holding nearly 30% ownership [3] Strategic Implications - The merger is driven by ambitions in the stablecoin market, with both companies aiming to leverage their strengths to achieve broader circulation of their products [5][6] - Naver Group has been looking to advance in the payments sector, and the merger is seen as a strategic move to enhance its capabilities in this area [6] - The sentiment in the prediction market indicates low confidence that stablecoins will exceed $360 billion before February, with only a 12.3% chance assigned to this outcome [6]

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]

Core Insights - The proposed merger between Naver and Dunamu could result in a "mega company" with annual profits of $2.1 billion, generating KRW 3 trillion in consolidated operating profits [1][2] Company Overview - Naver is South Korea's largest internet company, and its subsidiary Naver Financial operates various banking and e-payment platforms [2] - The merger aims to combine Naver Financial with Dunamu, which owns the largest crypto trading platform in South Korea, potentially creating Asia's biggest fintech company [3] Market Position and Synergies - The acquisition of Dunamu is expected to allow Naver to fully enter the crypto industry, particularly benefiting from stablecoins that could synergize with Naver's existing advertising, commerce, and fintech businesses [2] - The new firm is anticipated to establish a stablecoin ecosystem centered on Dunamu's exchange business and its GIWA protocol, enhancing its competitive position in both crypto and general payment sectors [3] Future Outlook - A predicted boom in crypto trading activity is expected as the U.S. enters a rate-cut cycle, which may lead to increased trading volumes in Korea [4] - The merger is seen as a way for Naver to explore new growth opportunities, addressing its recent valuation decline due to a lack of new growth engines [4] - Despite regulatory uncertainties, there is a relatively positive atmosphere surrounding the merger [4]

Core Viewpoint - The proposed merger between Dunamu, operator of Upbit, and Naver faces five significant legal hurdles that must be overcome for the deal to proceed, despite the potential to create a major player in the crypto-tech sector in East Asia [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Hurdles - Hurdle 1: Traditional Finance Regulations - South Korean regulators have imposed guidelines that effectively prevent traditional financial companies from engaging in crypto-related business, which poses a challenge for the merger [3]. - Hurdle 2: Stablecoin Legislation Uncertainty - The merger aims to facilitate the issuance of won-denominated stablecoins, but there is significant political and regulatory division regarding stablecoin legislation, which could hinder progress [4][5]. Group 2: Market Context - Upbit holds a dominant position in the South Korean crypto market, capturing approximately 72% of the market share, which highlights the strategic importance of the merger for both companies [1]. - Naver's interest in merging its financial unit with Dunamu is driven by the potential to enhance its payment ecosystem through the use of stablecoins, which could significantly expand its market presence [4][5].