National Supervisory Authority & Licensing Qualification Dossier • Asia-Pacific
KoFIU
Global JurisdictionKorea Financial Intelligence Unit (KoFIU)
- Supervisory tier
- Tier-2
- License classes
- 2
- Licensed records
- 0
- Active / regulated
- 0
Statutory Supervisory Mandate & Scope
Korea Financial Intelligence Unit (KoFIU) (KoFIU) oversees anti-money laundering registration, Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) compliance, Money Services Business (MSB) supervision, and financial crime intelligence in Global Jurisdiction.
Prudential Tier Assessment
Tier-2Tier-2 national Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and AML/CFT / Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) supervisor in Global Jurisdiction.
National licensing qualifications & statutory authorisation classes (KoFIU)
Authorisation categories, permitted institutional and retail activities, minimum initial capital adequacy, and ongoing prudential solvency rules enforced by KoFIU in Global Jurisdiction.
| License class / code | Official designation | Permitted institutional & retail activities | Minimum initial / base capital | Ongoing prudential & solvency rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VASP / DCE Registration | Virtual Asset Service Provider & Custodial Wallet Registration | Fiat-to-crypto exchange, crypto-to-crypto exchange, virtual asset transfer, and custodial wallet administration. | USD $50,000 – $150,000 equivalent share capital (or statutory fit-and-proper + local MLRO presence). | Continuous KYC/CDD onboarding, blockchain analytics transaction monitoring, and annual independent AML audit. |
| MSB / Currency Exchange Registration | Money Services Business & Remittance Registration | Money transmission, foreign currency dealing, and payment instrument issuance. | Subject to state/national surety bond and minimum net worth requirements. | Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) and Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs/STRs) via goAML / BSA E-Filing. |
Investor compensation, client money segregation & digital-asset regime
Statutory counterparty protections, custody reconciliation mandates, and virtual-asset licensing status under KoFIU.
AML/CFT Registration Only (Non-Prudential / No Investor Compensation Scheme)
- Maximum coverage per client
- Not covered by statutory investor compensation (FIU/MSB registration supervises AML/CFT compliance rather than prudential solvency)
- Eligible counterparties & scope
- Counterparties must verify whether the entity also holds a separate prudential securities or banking licence.
KoFIU VASP Custodial Wallet & Client Ledger Separation Rules
- Reconciliation & audit cadence
- On-chain and off-chain omnibus ledger reconciliation; separation of customer virtual assets from corporate treasury.
- Approved custodian requirements
- Multi-signature / MPC hardware security module (HSM) custody and segregated fiat settlement accounts.
KoFIU Statutory VASP / Digital Currency Exchange Registration
- Travel Rule, custody & stablecoin rules
- Mandatory originator and beneficiary Travel Rule data transmission for virtual asset transfers.
Primary Governing Statutes & Rulebooks
- Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Act of Global Jurisdiction
- FATF Recommendations 15 (Virtual Assets & VASPs) & 16 (Wire Transfer / Travel Rule)
- KoFIU Mandatory VASP / MSB Registration & Beneficial Ownership Regulations
Regulatory Reporting & Audit Obligations
Prompt filing of Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) and Threshold Transaction Reports with KoFIUAppointment of a resident Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and annual independent AML/CFT compliance audit5-year retention of KYC identity records and Travel Rule cryptographic counterparty data
Cross-Border Equivalence & Passporting
Territorial registration required in Global Jurisdiction whenever soliciting or onboarding domestic residents.
Supervised institutions & KoFIU licence records in our database
0 licence records referencing KoFIU (0 regulated/registered).
KoFIU (Global Jurisdiction): institutional licensing & due diligence FAQ
Key statutory capital, compensation, custody segregation, and verification answers for compliance teams.
What are the primary licensing classes and minimum capital requirements under KoFIU (Global Jurisdiction)?
KoFIU (Korea Financial Intelligence Unit (KoFIU)) supervises financial institutions in Global Jurisdiction under Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Act of Global Jurisdiction and FATF Recommendations 15 (Virtual Assets & VASPs) & 16 (Wire Transfer / Travel Rule). Key statutory authorisation classes include: VASP / DCE Registration (Virtual Asset Service Provider & Custodial Wallet Registration — min. capital: USD $50,000 – $150,000 equivalent share capital (or statutory fit-and-proper + local MLRO presence).); MSB / Currency Exchange Registration (Money Services Business & Remittance Registration — min. capital: Subject to state/national surety bond and minimum net worth requirements.). Ongoing prudential supervision requires strict adherence to capital adequacy and liquidity buffers.
Does KoFIU provide statutory investor compensation and mandatory client asset segregation?
Under KoFIU's framework, investor protection is governed by AML/CFT Registration Only (Non-Prudential / No Investor Compensation Scheme) with maximum coverage of Not covered by statutory investor compensation (FIU/MSB registration supervises AML/CFT compliance rather than prudential solvency) (Counterparties must verify whether the entity also holds a separate prudential securities or banking licence.). For client money and custody assets, supervised firms must comply with KoFIU VASP Custodial Wallet & Client Ledger Separation Rules, performing on-chain and off-chain omnibus ledger reconciliation; separation of customer virtual assets from corporate treasury. with multi-signature / mpc hardware security module (hsm) custody and segregated fiat settlement accounts..
How does KoFIU regulate digital assets, crypto exchanges (VASPs/CASPs), and stablecoins?
KoFIU's digital-asset regime is structured around KoFIU Statutory VASP / Digital Currency Exchange Registration (Active mandatory AML/CFT and VASP registration with public register verification.). Custody and AML/CFT compliance obligations require: Mandatory originator and beneficiary Travel Rule data transmission for virtual asset transfers.
How can I verify an institution's KoFIU licence number and check our 0 recorded licence entries?
Our database currently tracks 0 licence records referencing KoFIU (0 marked regulated or registered). To verify a counterparty at the primary source, open KoFIU's official public register, search by the exact reference number and legal entity name, and confirm that the firm's domain and permitted activities match its statutory authorisation.
Related regulatory & market structure briefings
Research and compliance analysis from FXOpen Ledger relevant to KoFIU and Global Jurisdiction.
OTC FX Microstructure
OTC FX Prime-of-Prime Margin Conduits: Cross-Venue Spread Compression and Credit Intermediation Audit
An institutional audit of how non-bank OTC FX dealers and prime-of-prime aggregators intermediate Tier-1 credit lines across G10 and EM currency pairs.
Dealer Execution
CFD Dealer Internalisation Ratios vs. STP Agency Routing: Measuring Toxic Flow and Last-Look Rejections
Evaluating how multi-currency FX and CFD dealers dynamically switch between principal internalisation and straight-through agency hedging.
Statutory licensing classes, base capital rules, and investor protection summaries for KoFIU (Global Jurisdiction) are maintained for institutional benchmarking and do not constitute legal advice. Always verify current rulebooks and active firm authorisations directly on KoFIU’s official public register.