- South Korea plans to replace its 1950 National Property Act with a new law that explicitly includes virtual assets and intellectual property as state assets.
- The Ministry of Economy and Finance aims to modernize asset management, focusing on value creation rather than just preservation, with a pilot for tokenized government bonds in 2027.
- Additional initiatives include stablecoin regulations, spot crypto ETFs, and a provincial stablecoin pilot in Gyeonggi using zero-knowledge proofs and proof-of-reserves.
South Korea is gearing up for a major overhaul of its state asset management system, with plans to formally recognize cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and other digital assets as part of the country’s national wealth. The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF) announced the proposal during a policy briefing on July 15, 2026, at the Presidential Blue House, as part of a broader economic growth roadmap for the second half of the year.
The proposed legislation, tentatively called the Basic National Assets Act, would replace the current National Property Act that has been in place since 1950. That old framework was designed for an economy where state assets were mostly real estate, and officials say it no longer reflects the diversity of resources the government now holds. The new law would expand the definition of state assets to include virtual assets and intellectual property, aiming to create a more modern and value-driven management approach.
What the New Law Will Change
The MOEF’s plan goes beyond just adding cryptocurrencies to the list of state assets. It seeks to fundamentally change how the government thinks about, manages, and develops its property. Instead of focusing mainly on preserving or selling assets, the reform emphasizes generating value from public holdings through specialized management strategies for different asset types. For example, real estate, patents, digital wallets, and blockchain-based assets would each have tailored rules for custody, valuation, and development.
It’s important to note that the announcement does not mean the South Korean government has started buying Bitcoin or other tokens. The reform is about creating a legal framework for managing digital assets that the state may already hold or acquire in the future, not about launching a public investment fund in cryptocurrencies.
Tokenized Bonds and CBDC Integration
As part of the same roadmap, the ministry reiterated plans to launch a pilot program in 2027 that will tokenize government bonds on a blockchain and link them to the Bank of Korea’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) infrastructure. The goal is to reduce transaction costs and speed up settlements. The Bank of Korea will study how its CBDC can interoperate with other blockchain networks, a concept first floated by BOK Governor Hyun Song Shin at the ECB Forum on Central Banking in July.
The government also plans to explore tokenization of state-owned real estate through initiatives like eco real estate tokenization to allow retail investors to buy fractional shares and share in the returns. This move is seen as a way to democratize access to public property investments and generate additional revenue for the state.
Stablecoins, ETFs, and Provincial Pilots
Beyond the national asset law, South Korea is advancing its broader digital asset agenda. The MOEF confirmed that blockchain development remains part of the economic growth strategy for the second half of 2026, even as artificial intelligence receives a larger share of public investment. Authorities are working on a Basic Digital Assets Act that will set rules for the industry, including conduct standards and a legal framework for won-pegged stablecoins.
Plans are also underway to amend capital market laws to allow spot cryptocurrency ETFs, though no specific timeline has been given. Meanwhile, the province of Gyeonggi is preparing to launch an eight-month stablecoin pilot starting in August 2026, led by security firm ZKrypto. The pilot will test issuance, circulation, settlement, fraud prevention, and privacy protections using zero-knowledge proofs and proof-of-reserves technology.
These initiatives show that South Korea is not just talking about digital assets in theory—it is actively building the infrastructure to integrate them into both public finance and everyday transactions. The provincial pilot, in particular, could provide practical data on how stablecoins work in real-world public payment systems before any national rollout.
All these efforts come as South Korea, home to one of the world’s most active retail crypto markets, seeks to balance innovation with control. The new Basic National Assets Act will be a key piece of legislation determining how cryptocurrencies are treated as part of the country’s wealth. Until the final text is published, the announcement signals a clear move toward legal modernization rather than a confirmation of specific state investments in tokens.