Mirae Asset Financial Group Finalizes Acquisition of Korbit... Opening the 'Mirae Asset 3.0' Digital Asset Era

On Thursday, July 23, 2026, Mirae Asset Financial Group officially finalized its acquisition of the domestic virtual asset exchange Korbit. This is recorded as the first instance of a major Korean financial holding company directly securing a stake in a domestic cryptocurrency exchange to exercise management rights. The deal was finalized following approval of the business combination by the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) earlier this month and is interpreted as a significant signal marking the institutional integration of the domestic digital asset market.

Mirae Asset completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Korbit today, ascending to the position of largest shareholder. The currently secured stake stands at 92.06%, and Mirae Asset plans to increase this to 97.15% through additional transactions by the end of this week. Through this acquisition, Mirae Asset will significantly expand its business portfolio beyond its existing asset management, investment banking (IB), and insurance sectors into the realm of digital assets.

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The biggest hurdle for this merger and acquisition, the regulatory review, was resolved with the approval of the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) on July 9, 2026. The KFTC determined that Mirae Asset Consulting's acquisition of Korbit would not substantially restrict competition in the domestic virtual asset trading market. This result reflects the fact that Korbit's market share is relatively low compared to top-tier exchanges, leading to fewer concerns regarding monopoly or oligopoly.

'Mirae Asset 3.0' Vision Crosses Regulatory Threshold

Starting with this acquisition, Mirae Asset plans to fully implement the 'Mirae Asset 3.0' vision announced last year. Korbit will serve as a key platform providing Mirae Asset's clients with access to real-world assets (RWA) and virtual assets. In particular, the company plans to focus on overcoming productivity gaps and strengthening global asset management capabilities by combining artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology.

• Development of global digital wallets targeting domestic and overseas markets
• Provision of next-generation asset management services integrating traditional assets and virtual assets
• Construction of infrastructure for security token offerings (STO) and tokenized real-world asset trading
• Strengthening of the global financial network through the expansion of Web 3.0 business models

As of June 2026, Korbit holds the fourth position in the industry among the top five domestic KRW exchanges, with a trading volume market share of approximately 1.25%. Although its market share is lower than that of top-tier competitors, it is known that Mirae Asset highly valued its symbolism as the first cryptocurrency exchange in Korea and its technical stability. Paradoxically, this low market share worked in its favor in securing approval from regulatory authorities.

The main sellers in this transaction are NXC, the holding company of Nexon, and SK Planet. Both sides have been in negotiations since the end of 2025, and the total transaction size is estimated to be up to $97.5 million (approximately 130 billion KRW). Mirae Asset plans to further solidify its control and accelerate the restructuring of Korbit through additional stake purchases scheduled for this week.

Entry of Institutional Finance and Strengthening of Investor Protection

The financial sector expects that the entry of a large financial group like Mirae Asset into the market will increase the credibility of the virtual asset market. Analysts suggest that the level of investor protection will be significantly enhanced as the strict internal control and risk management systems of traditional finance are transplanted into Korbit. Furthermore, there is a high possibility that the market base will expand as customized digital asset products for high-net-worth individuals are launched.

Mirae Asset plans to foster Korbit beyond a simple exchange into a hub for global digital asset management. To respond to the 'era of productivity asymmetry' emphasized by Chairman Park Hyeon-joo, the company is aiming for synergy by combining Korbit's blockchain technology with the group's global network. This acquisition is evaluated as a strategic move by a Korean financial firm to take the lead in digital finance.

Future market interest is focused on the specific services that Mirae Asset will introduce through Korbit. In particular, once the stake expansion scheduled for the end of this week is completed, Mirae Asset is expected to push for more powerful innovations across Korbit's overall management. As the boundaries between traditional finance and virtual assets blur, attention is on what changes Mirae Asset's moves will bring to the domestic financial landscape.