Three Samsung affiliates — Samsung Securities, Samsung SDS, and Samsung Card — have agreed to acquire a combined 4% stake in Dunamu, the operator of Upbit, South Korea's largest cryptocurrency exchange. The deal values the investment at approximately 612.8 billion won, equivalent to about $408 million.

Upbit commands the overwhelming share of South Korea's crypto trading volume, making the stake a direct entry into the country's most liquid digital asset marketplace. The move signals Samsung's deepening commitment to blockchain-based financial services and stablecoin infrastructure, building on prior initiatives such as the Samsung Blockchain Wallet integrated into Galaxy devices and enterprise blockchain pilots through Samsung SDS. The investment comes at a time when South Korea is shifting toward a more supportive regulatory framework for digital assets, with lawmakers advancing digital asset legislation that could provide clearer rules for tokenized securities, stablecoins, and exchange oversight.

Digital Finance Ecosystem Initiatives

Samsung Securities intends to collaborate with Dunamu on security token issuance and distribution, along with broader digital asset services. The brokerage is positioning itself to capitalize on the growing market for tokenized financial products as the regulatory landscape continues to evolve.

Samsung SDS, the conglomerate's IT services division, plans to integrate its cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and blockchain capabilities with Dunamu's digital asset expertise. The partnership aims to build digital financial infrastructure tailored for banks and institutional clients.

Samsung Card is pursuing opportunities in digital payments, with particular interest in scenarios involving a potential won-backed stablecoin. The company aims to integrate its payment network with Dunamu's ecosystem and Samsung's Monimo financial platform to strengthen its foothold in next-generation payment services.

Stablecoins Emerge as a Strategic Priority

The investment arrives as South Korean financial institutions increasingly prepare for a landscape shaped by stablecoins, tokenized securities, and blockchain-based payment systems. Regulators have indicated a more accommodating stance on digital assets, which has encouraged traditional financial firms to form partnerships with cryptocurrency infrastructure providers. The shift aligns with a broader global momentum behind stablecoin adoption, as major financial institutions across Asia and beyond explore blockchain-based settlement and payment rails.

Industry observers view Samsung's coordinated investment through three affiliates as evidence of a long-term strategic vision rather than a purely financial stake. The combination of securities expertise, IT infrastructure, and payment networks positions the group to compete as digital finance adoption accelerates.

The transaction also marks Kakao's exit from its remaining investment in Dunamu, reshaping the ownership structure of one of Asia's largest cryptocurrency exchange operators. Samsung's entry underscores the accelerating convergence between traditional finance and the digital asset sector in South Korea.