The new Virtual Asset User Protection Act in South Korea strengthens previous regulations by requiring VASPs to register and comply with anti-money laundering standards.
This law, the Virtual Asset User Protection Act, expands upon the regulations that were implemented in March 2021. These regulations mandated that virtual asset service providers (VASPs) register with financial authorities and comply with anti-money laundering standards.
The new act, which was enacted on July 18 of last year, enhances the supervision of VASPs by addressing concerns such as asset safety and discriminatory trading practices.
Key provisions include the mandatory segregation of user funds, the establishment of insurance or reserve funds to mitigate risks such as hacking, and the stringent monitoring of transactions to identify and report suspicious activities.
VASPs are now obligated to deposit consumer funds at banks and pay interest on these funds. Additionally, they must maintain comprehensive records of user assets and are subject to more stringent inspections and penalties for noncompliance.
With these improved regulations, the FSC establishes a more secure environment for virtual asset users.
Nevertheless, they underscore that the new regulations provide heightened protection; however, risks persist, particularly in the context of transactions involving unregistered service providers or peer-to-peer exchanges.