South Korea Set to Launch Crypto ETFs — Expected Rollout in Late 2025

TradingKey – President Lee Jae-myung is delivering on his pro-crypto campaign promises, with South Korea’s first crypto ETF potentially launching in the second half of 2025.

According to a June 19 report by Bitcoin News, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) has submitted a roadmap for spot crypto ETFs to the Presidential Committee on Policy Planning, signaling a major regulatory shift.

During his presidential campaign, Lee pledged to support digital asset innovation, including lowering trading fees, backing stablecoins, and introducing crypto ETFs. Since taking office, his administration has actively pursued these goals.

On the same day, Korea’s Herald Economy reported that the FSC will investigate trading fees on domestic exchanges, aiming to reduce costs for retail investors. Earlier this month, the ruling party introduced the Digital Asset Basic Act, which would allow Korean companies with at least 500 million KRW in capital to issue stablecoins.

Much like U.S. President Donald Trump, Lee is positioning himself as a crypto-friendly leader, pushing forward a national digital asset agenda. His policies — ranging from ETFs and stablecoins to the formation of a crypto oversight committee — mirror Trump’s approach and may even spark healthy competition between the two nations. Ultimately, this rivalry could accelerate global crypto adoption.