The Financial institution of Korea has acknowledged that it’s approaching the concept of together with Bitcoin in its international alternate reserves with warning, citing considerations over the cryptocurrency’s excessive value volatility.
In a 16 March 2025 response to a written inquiry, central financial institution officers confirmed that they’ve neither mentioned nor reviewed the potential of including Bitcoin to South Korea’s international reserves.
Their response got here after Consultant Cha Gyu-geun of the Nationwide Meeting’s Planning and Finance Committee raised the problem. Based on experiences from The Korea Herald, the central financial institution harassed {that a} “cautious method is required.”
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Bitcoin’s Volatility Raises Issues
The Financial institution of Korea pointed to Bitcoin’s unpredictable value swings as a main concern. Officers famous that in instances of market instability, transaction prices to liquidate Bitcoin might enhance sharply, making it a dangerous asset for international reserves.
Over the previous 30 days, Bitcoin’s value has fluctuated between $98,000 and $76,000 earlier than stabilizing round $83,000—a 15% decline since February 16, in response to CoinGecko.
The dialogue surrounding Bitcoin as a reserve asset has gained momentum globally, notably after U.S. President Donald Trump’s current government order establishing a strategic Bitcoin reserve and digital asset stockpile.
At a seminar on March 6, crypto business lobbyists and a few members of Korea’s Democratic Get together urged the federal government to contemplate integrating Bitcoin into its nationwide reserves and to develop a won-backed stablecoin.
Nevertheless, the Financial institution of Korea stays agency on its reserve asset standards, emphasizing that international alternate holdings have to be liquid, readily accessible, and have an investment-grade credit standing—necessities it believes Bitcoin doesn’t meet.
NEW: North Korea joins the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Race.
– BTC held: 13,562 pic.twitter.com/Ybru2wpfu4
— Fiat Archive (@fiatarchive) March 17, 2025
Professor Yang Jun-seok of Catholic College of Korea agreed with the central financial institution’s stance, stating that international reserves must be allotted primarily based on the currencies of main buying and selling companions.
In the meantime, Professor Kang Tae-soo of KAIST’s Graduate Faculty of Finance steered that the U.S. is extra more likely to leverage stablecoins rather than Bitcoin to take care of greenback dominance.
He added that the Worldwide Financial Fund’s (IMF) recognition of stablecoins as official reserves might considerably impression future financial insurance policies.
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South Korea Confirms New Regulation For Institutional Crypto Investments By Q3
Final week, South Korea’s Monetary Providers Fee (FSC) introduced plans to problem complete tips for institutional cryptocurrency funding by the third quarter of 2025.
The FSC revealed its roadmap throughout a gathering with native crypto business specialists on Wednesday, 12 March 2025.
Lately, the nation additionally revealed that its crypto guidelines might change as the federal government plans to raise the company crypto buying and selling ban, paving the best way for Korean crypto capital.
On 13 February 2025, the nation introduced that it’s lifting its long-standing crypto buying and selling ban. The choice has now made it doable for establishments, non-profits, and different company entities to interact in crypto transactions within the nation.
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Key Takeaways
The Financial institution of Korea stays cautious about including Bitcoin to its international reserves because of its excessive volatility.
Officers emphasize that reserve property have to be liquid, accessible, and investment-grade, standards Bitcoin doesn’t meet.
In the meantime, South Korea is shifting towards institutional crypto adoption by lifting its company buying and selling ban.
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