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Hana Bank to Buy 6.55% Stake in South Korean Crypto Operator Dunamu For 1 Trillion Won

Hana Bank will acquire a 6.55% stake in Dunamu, the operator of South Korea's largest cryptocurrency exchange, for about 1 trillion won as part of efforts to strengthen its digital finance capabilities.The lender will purchase 2.284 million existing Dunamu shares in a cash transaction from Kakao Investment, according to a Friday Korea Exchange filing by parent Hana Financial Group (KRX:086790).Dunamu is an affiliate of South Korean internet company Kakao (KRX:035720), which confirmed the transaction in a separate filing on Friday.The acquisition is scheduled to close on June 15.Dunamu operates cryptocurrency exchange Upbit alongside trading platform and information service businesses in South Korea.Hana Bank described the acquisition as a "strategic equity investment to secure new finance competitiveness."South Korea is one of the world's most active cryptocurrency markets, dominated by five major spot exchanges, including Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit, and Gopax.Upbit and Bithumb together account for nearly 96% of the country's cryptocurrency trading volume, according to crypto market data and analytics provider Kaiko.The investment comes amid a Chosun report that the value of virtual assets held by South Korean investors fell by more than 60 trillion won in just over a year as funds shifted into domestic and overseas equity markets following weakness in cryptocurrency prices, including Bitcoin.Citing data submitted by the Bank of Korea to lawmaker Cha Kyu-keun, the report said the total value of virtual assets held domestically stood at 60.6 trillion won at the end of February.Naver's (KRX:035420) financial unit agreed in 2025 to acquire Dunamu in an all-stock deal valued at 15.13 trillion won, in what was among Asia's largest fintech transactions that year.Naver Financial said the acquisition was aimed at securing future growth opportunities tied to digital assets.The South Korean internet giant also plans to pursue an initial public offering of Naver Financial after the share-swap deal is completed, though key details remain unsettled.South Korea is also considering a framework to allow the local issuance of won-denominated stablecoins, though legislation has faced delays amid disagreements over eligibility requirements and regulatory oversight.