South Korea lifts the ban on tokenized securities, blockchain securities officially launched in 2027

On January 16, news broke that South Korea has taken a significant step forward in the regulation of tokenized securities. The Korean National Assembly has officially passed amendments to the Capital Markets Act and the Electronic Securities Act, providing clear legal grounds for the issuance and trading of blockchain-based tokenized securities, marking the formal inclusion of digital assets into the national financial system.

According to the latest legislation, blockchain securities issued using distributed ledger technology will be legally recognized. After the revision of the Electronic Securities Act, qualifying issuers can legally issue digital securities; at the same time, adjustments to the Capital Markets Act allow such assets to be traded in the form of investment contract securities through brokerage firms and financial intermediaries.

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) of South Korea stated that this regulatory framework is not about overthrowing the traditional financial system but about promoting deep integration of blockchain technology with existing market structures. The new framework permits securities account management based on distributed ledgers and introduces smart contracts in issuance, settlement, and other processes, thereby improving efficiency, reducing costs, and minimizing operational risks.

Regulators expect that the implementation of tokenized securities will significantly enhance the practical application scenarios of smart contracts within financial infrastructure, further promoting the integration of digital assets with traditional financial products. After completing parliamentary review, the bill will be submitted to the State Council and promulgated by the President, with an expected effective date in January 2027.

It is worth noting that this progress occurs at a critical stage of South Korea’s easing of digital asset regulations. Previously, the FSC confirmed that enterprises and institutional investors are allowed to participate in digital asset trading, ending nearly nine years of related restrictions and paving the way for institutional capital to enter the market.

From a global perspective, asset tokenization is becoming an important direction for financial innovation. The United States has recently also issued regulatory signals supporting institutional participation in tokenized assets, and some major international financial institutions have begun testing tokenized financial products on blockchain networks such as Ethereum.

Market forecasts indicate that tokenized securities have long-term growth potential. Boston Consulting Group predicts that by the end of this decade, the market size of tokenized securities in South Korea alone could approach $249 billion, while Standard Chartered Bank forecasts that the global tokenized asset market could reach $2 trillion by 2028. This legislation is seen as a crucial step for South Korea to gain a competitive edge in the global tokenized finance race.