Hana Bank Buys 6.55% of Upbit Parent Dunamu in $670M Crypto Push
Hana Bank has agreed to acquire a significant in Dunamu, the parent company of exchange Upbit, in a move that underscores the growing convergence between South Koreas traditional banking sector and the digital asset industry. The bank will purchase 2.28 million shares in Dunamu from Kakao Investments for approximately $670 million (1 trillion won), according to regulatory filings released Friday. The transaction, scheduled to close on June 15, will give Hana Bank a 6.55% ownership , making it the fourth-largest shareholder in the company. The acquisition represents the largest investment by a South Korean bank into a digital asset business to date. Dunamu operates Upbit, the countrys dominant exchange and one of the largest trading platforms in Asia. The investment signals increasing confidence among established financial institutions that digital assets are becoming a permanent part of the financial system rather than a speculative fringe market. Hana Financial Group said the purchase is intended to strengthen its position in what it described as a new financial landscape. The bank is funding the all-cash transaction using approximately 2.78% of its equity capital. Kakao Investments, the investment arm of technology conglomerate Kakao Corp., confirmed it is reducing its through the sale. Following the transaction, Kakao Investments will retain