South Korea’s tech titans Naver and Kakao will “go to war” over stablecoins, with K-pop, e-commerce, and webtoons, or web-based cartoons, set to drive adoption. That’s according to South Korean tech industry experts, who say that the two firms will leverage their crypto connections to their own advantage and issue their own KRW-pegged coins. “The competition for won-denominated stablecoin supremacy between South Korea’s two biggest tech giants has officially begun,” the South Korean newspaper Seoul Kyung ...

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 ...

SEOUL (Reuters) -Naver Financial, a unit of South Korean internet giant Naver, has agreed to acquire Dunamu, an operator of ​the country's largest cryptocurrency exchange Upbit, in an all-stock deal ‌valued at 15.13 trillion won ($10.27 billion). The payment platform said in a regulatory filing on ‌Wednesday that the deal, which is one of the largest in Asia this year, aims to secure future growth based on digital assets. Naver’s fintech subsidiary plans to issue 2.54 shares for every one share in the op ...

Naver, South Korea’s answer to Google, has moved closer to a deal that will see it snap up Upbit, the country’s biggest crypto exchange. Naver and its financial subsidiary Naver Financial plan to hold board meetings on November 26 to confirm a stock swap deal with Dumau, the Upbit operator. But the boards’ decisions appear to be a fait accompli, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported, quoting anonymous sources close to the deal. And Naver founder and chair Lee Hae-jin is scheduled to “personally e ...

🚨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].

Core Insights - The launch of SUN on Upbit, South Korea's largest compliant exchange, has ignited enthusiasm in the Korean crypto market, making it a daily choice for over 3 million users [1][3] - SUN's trading volume on its first day exceeded $230 million, accounting for over 30% of the global trading volume, reflecting strong user support for the TRON ecosystem [3] - The successful listing of SUN indicates compliance with South Korean financial regulations, paving the way for future development [3][8] Market Performance - Upbit has an average daily trading volume of $1.5 billion and a large user base, positioning it as a benchmark in the Korean crypto market [3] - The TRON ecosystem has seen a 200% increase in overall liquidity over the past year, with SUN playing a significant role in this growth [6] - Global users of the TRON ecosystem have surpassed 100 million, with peak daily trading volumes exceeding $10 billion [5] Technological and Regulatory Aspects - TRON's mainnet boasts a transaction processing capability of 3000 TPS, facilitating seamless asset transfers [3] - The integration of SUN into the TRON ecosystem aligns with the company's commitment to both technology and compliance, enhancing user trust [3][8] - The collaboration with Upbit marks a significant step in expanding TRON's presence in the East Asian market [6] Future Outlook - The success of SUN on Upbit is seen as a stepping stone for TRON to further integrate blockchain technology into everyday financial life [8] - As more compliant partnerships develop, TRON aims to provide efficient and secure financial experiences for global users [8]