South Korea's New Legislation Aims to Safeguard Investors from Cryptocurrency Ha...

South Korea is swiftly stepping up its game to shield cryptocurrency investors from dramatic downfalls like the one witnessed in Do Kwon’s Terra ecosystem. The passage of an innovative crypto bill is achieving this move. On June 30, the Virtual Asset User Protection legislation, a pioneering law designed to govern unfair trade practices and fortify crypto investor protection, was successfully passed in the National Assembly. 

A Unified Crypto Bill – An Impressive Assembly of Regulations

Interestingly, this groundbreaking legislation brings together 19 crypto-related bills. It provides a consolidated law that meticulously defines digital assets while mandating stringent penalties for illegal trading activities. These unlawful activities include exploiting non-public information, manipulating the market, and indulging in other unfair trading practices within the crypto sector.

Key highlights from local media reports suggest that the central focus of the Virtual Asset User Protection Act is to enforce the Capital Market Act primarily on virtual assets characterized as potential securities. Furthermore, the legislation seeks to establish a solid foundation for imposing penalties and assigning responsibility for any damages caused by deceptive crypto trading practices.

Stepping Up Investor Protection

The new regulation stipulates that virtual asset service providers (VASPs) in South Korea must now be accountable for user deposits and provide insurance coverage to enhance investor protection further. Such mandates are crucial in securing user protection against cyber-attacks, system failure, and other associated risks.

According to the SBS Biz report, non-compliance with the new rules can lead to severe consequences, including fixed-term imprisonment of no less than one year or significant monetary fines. For instance, the Financial Services Commission can impose a penalty twice the profit gained from unfair trading practices.

Terraform Labs Founder’s Legal Troubles

This regulatory shift comes hot on the heels of the sentencing of Terraform Labs founder, Do Kwon, to a four-month imprisonment by a court in Montenegro. Kwon was found guilty of utilizing a falsified passport. Additionally, he is facing an arrest warrant in South Korea based on allegations of breaching the country’s capital market law.

South Korean authorities recently proclaimed that the collapse of Terra’s tokens constitutes the country’s largest financial or securities fraud case ever witnessed.

As South Korea takes significant strides in crypto regulation, these legislative advancements reveal the government’s commitment to providing a secure and fair environment for cryptocurrency trading. By addressing the complexities of the crypto landscape, the new bill signifies a pivotal step towards protecting investor interests and reinforcing the integrity of the virtual asset marketplace.

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