Virtual Asset Damage Amounts to 443 Billion Won, Reported Operators' Operating Profit Increases 3.4 Times

The damage amount from illegal activities using virtual assets was recorded at 443 billion won last year. According to the National Police Agency, there were 3,105 cases of investment fraud and 252 cases of similar solicitation and multi-level marketing that occurred last year. The damage amount is 3.4 times the operating profit and loss of 1.292 billion won from 26 reported virtual asset operators, excluding Dunamu. There are 27 reported virtual asset operators, and among them, 26 reported an operating profit and loss of 1.292 billion won, with many recording net losses. Legal operators are obligated to prevent money laundering, but unlisted coin sales organizations operate outside the regulatory framework. The Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service stated that in the second half of 2025, a survey of virtual asset operators showed that during the same period, the market capitalization of virtual assets decreased by 8%, the average daily trading volume decreased by 15%, and the operating profit and loss of exchanges decreased by 38%. Illegal fundraising is proceeding separately from this downturn, and recently, an investment briefing for unlisted coins was held in Seoul. Industry insiders pointed out that illegal organizations are raising funds under the name 'coin', and the gap between legal operators and illegal fundraising organizations is related to regulatory gaps. Investment fraud in virtual assets has become a recurring type of financial crime, and the delay in the legislation of the Digital Asset Basic Act has been pointed out as a problem.