South Korea Revisits Crypto Exchange Liability Amid Hacking Risks

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission is contemplating imposing no-fault liability on virtual asset operators for hacking-related damages, according to a Yonhap News Agency report on December 7.

This potential legislation aligns virtual asset operators with financial institutions, impacting regulatory dynamics and market stability in South Korea’s evolving crypto sector.

South Korea Targets Crypto Exchanges with 3% Sales Fines

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) of South Korea is considering adding a clause to its draft legislation, imposing no-fault liability on virtual asset operators. This move follows a series of 20 computer incidents on top Korean won exchanges, emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures. The FSC aims to align virtual asset exchange liabilities with those of financial companies.

South Korean lawmakers are debating stricter penalties, with proposed fines reaching 3% of sales revenue, paralleling measures in the Electronic Financial Transactions Act. Current maximum fines are capped at 5 billion won. This legislative shift reflects the government’s commitment to improving user protection and response strategies in the crypto sector.

Industry reactions have been mixed. While there has been no official statement from major exchanges like Upbit and Bithumb, stakeholders are closely monitoring developments. Discussions on cryptocurrency forums and social media emphasize the potential impact on exchange compliance efforts and security enhancements.

No-Fault Liability: Potential Game-Changer for Crypto Compliance

Did you know? The concept of no-fault liability is already applied to South Korean banks for voice phishing cases, setting a precedent for proposed crypto exchange regulations.

According to CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin (BTC), as of 06:31 UTC on December 7, 2025, has a market cap of $1.79 trillion. The 24-hour trading volume declined by 41.05% to $35.99 billion, while the price showed a minor decrease of 0.06%. BTC’s circulating supply is 19,958,646.

Insights from the Coincu research team suggest that imposing no-fault liability could prompt significant regulatory alignment between virtual asset exchanges and traditional financial institutions. This shift might lead to heightened security investment and increased operational costs for crypto exchanges.