OKX Ventures and Korea Investment & Securities invest $106M for 19.6% of Coinone

OKX Ventures and Korea Investment & Securities (KIS) will invest 80 billion won each (about $53 million) in Coinone, buying a combined 19.6% stake in a transaction totaling roughly $106 million. The deal is pending regulatory approval. Coinone CEO Cha Myunghun will remain the largest shareholder with a 27.8% stake. OKX Ventures and KIS will become joint third-largest shareholders. KIS is positioning for opportunities in security tokens and stablecoins as Korea’s digital-asset regulatory framework takes shape. OKX Ventures is expected to contribute its global compliance and risk-management expertise. The investment comes amid broader institutional moves into Korea’s regulated crypto sector. Three Samsung affiliates this week reportedly moved to acquire a stake in Upbit operator Dunamu for about $408 million. Mirae Asset has also been pursuing a 92% buyout of Korbit since February. The flurry of deals is fueling speculation that Korea’s compliant exchanges are increasingly being treated as institutional-grade assets.