Crypto.com, a global cryptocurrency exchange, announced on Tuesday that it will officially launch a trading platform application tailored for the Korean market later this month. The customized application, supporting trading between different cryptocurrencies, is scheduled to debut on April 29.The launch of the app makes Crypto.com the first global coin exchange to venture into the cryptocurrency trading market in Korea.”The first product we will be launching in Korea is the crypto.com app, which is our most popular product globally. It’s a fully mobile product offering a convenient and safe way to buy, sell and store digital assets, including non-fungible tokens, enabling Korean customers to access global prices in a regulated manner,” Eric Anziani, president and chief operating officer (COO) of Crypto.com, said during a press conference in Seoul’s financial district Yeouido on Tuesday.Explaining the focus on the Korean market, Crypto.com’s COO highlighted the country’s reputation as a tech-savvy trendsetter open to embracing innovative technologies. Furthermore, Anziani emphasized Korea’s status as a cultural powerhouse, indicating the exchange’s intention to bolster Korean creators and artists through robust partnership programs. Patrick Yoon, the general manager of the firm’s Korean operation, emphasized the company’s ongoing efforts to tailor its services to meet the specific needs of the Korean market. He noted that this focus on localization has been a priority for the past two and a half years.
“Crypto.com is entering the Korean market by utilizing the virtual asset service provider (VASP) license previously acquired by local cryptocurrency exchange OKBit, as Crypto.com acquired 100 percent ownership of OKBit in 2022,” Yoon said during the press conference, explaining that the global coin exchange has been working to ensure compliance with Korean regulations and legal frameworks.”Once our coin trading service is stabilized in the Korean market, we plan to ultimately advance into the Korean won-based trading market in the future,” Yoon added.Under the Korean legal system, cryptocurrency exchanges are required to forge a partnership with commercial banks to authenticate the real-name accounts of exchange customers. Yoon said talks are ongoing with local banks over potential real-name account partnerships.Currently, there are five won-based coin exchanges that earned authorization from the financial authorities: UpBit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit and GOPAX.Founded in 2016, Crypto.com boasts a user base exceeding 80 million worldwide and maintains operations across 14 global offices in countries such as the United States, Australia, France, Hong Kong and Britain. The company has forged strategic partnerships with renowned brands and sports teams, including Samsung Electronics, LINE Xenesis, Formula 1, Coca-Cola, Paris Saint-Germain and 메이저 others.