South Korea’s top money-laundering watchdog has slapped crypto exchange Korbit 
with a fine worth about ₩2.73 billion, or roughly $1.90 million, after finding 
widespread lapses in its compliance controls. Related Reading: Crypto Headed 
For A $10 Trillion Future? Hoskinson Says RWA Is The Key According to 
regulator statements and multiple news reports, the move follows an on-site 
inspection that uncovered thousands of rule breaches and several risky 
transfers abroad. Regulatory Findings And Scope Of The Inspection The 
Financial Intelligence Unit said inspectors found nearly 22,000 breaches 
related to AML and KYC rules. The FIU said the inspection, carried out from 
October 16 to 29, 2024, exposed serious gaps in how Korbit verified customer 
identities and handled transactions. Reports have disclosed that the exchange 
allowed some customers to trade before full verification was completed and 
accepted unclear or incomplete identity documents in many cases. The regulator 
also flagged 19 overseas transfers involving three unregistered foreign 
virtual asset service providers, a practice that is restricted under Korean 
law. The FIU highlighted the failure to carry out required risk checks for 
certain services, including some nonfungible token activities. In total, 655 
cases were cited where mandatory risk assessments were not completed, 
according to the findings. Corporate responsibility measures were taken as 
well: the CEO received a formal caution and the compliance officer was 
reprimanded. An institutional warning was issued alongside the monetary 
penalty. Transaction Failures And Enforcement Details The inspection report 
described multiple instances where trading or withdrawals proceeded despite 
incomplete KYC steps. Such lapses raise the chance that illicit funds could 
move through the platform without timely detection. The FIU’s action is part 
of a broader push by South Korean authorities to tighten oversight of 
exchanges and bring them into closer alignment with international anti-money- 
laundering standards. Market sources indicate Korbit has been in discussions 
with Mirae Asset Group about a potential deal, with the exchange’s valuation 
reported at around ₩140 billion — roughly $97–$98 million. That interest comes 
even as regulators step up scrutiny, showing that traditional finance remains 
curious about crypto assets despite compliance headaches. Related Reading: 
Crypto ETFs Defy The Pullback With $32 Billion In Fresh Investor Cash What The 
Penalty Means For The Industry Other exchanges have also faced tougher checks 
in recent years as authorities press platforms to shore up controls. The 
Korbit case is likely to prompt more internal reviews across the sector and 
could speed up changes in procedures, staffing and technology meant to prevent 
repeat failures. Some measures will be public, while others may be handled 
behind closed doors. Korbit declined to comment directly to some outlets, 
while the FIU confirmed the sanction on December 31, 2025. The exchange will 
now need to demonstrate fixes or face possible further action. Featured image 
from Pexels, chart from TradingView

Crypto Exchange Korbit Fined $1.90 Million By South Korean Regulators

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