South Korean brokerage Korea Investment & Securities is reviewing a potential stake in crypto exchange Coinone, according to local media reports and company comments. No agreement has been finalized.

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The firm previously offered contracts for difference as part of Korea’s leveraged trading market but scaled back and suspended the product following tighter regulatory scrutiny after the 2023 South Korea CFD stock manipulation scandal. Since then, it has focused on listed products and global investment services rather than restarting a broad retail CFD business.

Korea Investment & Securities currently provides domestic and global equities trading, exchange-traded derivatives, structured products, and wealth management services.

Proposed 20% Cap Could Affect Coinone

Citing people familiar with the matter, The Korea Herald reported that the brokerage has engaged with regulators and politicians as part of a broader process tied to a potential investment in Coinone. The exchange also said that no specific transaction had been decided.

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The development comes as South Korea considers a proposal to cap major shareholders’ stakes in domestic crypto exchanges at 20%. Cha Myung-hoon reportedly controls about 53.44% of Coinone, and a stake sale could become one way to comply if the proposal advances into law.

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A potential Coinone deal would place Korea Investment & Securities alongside peers already active in the crypto sector. Earlier this year, Mirae Asset Group acquired crypto exchange Korbit for $92 million through a subsidiary to comply with ownership regulations, adding exchange infrastructure to its brokerage, digital bonds, and tokenized securities activities. Korbit continues operating with a 1% market share.

The transaction coincides with South Korea advancing security token rules and considering broader institutional participation in crypto. The move reflects a wider trend of traditional financial firms integrating with digital asset markets. Korea Investment & Securities’ net profit of over $1.3 billion in 2025 indicates it has the financial capacity to pursue a potential stake in Coinone.