South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Korbit accepts a $2 million anti-money laundering fine and will not appeal

Korean cryptocurrency exchange Korbit announced that it will accept a nearly $2 million fine and an official warning from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) without filing an appeal. The FIU conducted anti-money laundering on-site inspections of all fiat exchanges in South Korea in October 2024, discovering approximately 22,000 violations at Korbit, including 12,800 instances of accepting vague or unclear identification documents, as well as allowing users to trade without completing KYC verification.

Korbit stated, "We respect and humbly accept the FIU's decision to ensure the transparency and healthy development of the cryptocurrency market, and we have completed all corrective measures." As the first cryptocurrency exchange in South Korea, Korbit's market share has now shrunk to 0.5%, with an average daily trading volume of only about $12 million. Securities giant Mirae Asset is advancing an acquisition deal, with amounts ranging from $68 million to $95 million.