South Korea could begin taxing tokenized stocks as early as the second half of 2026, according to comments from the country’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, pointing to a major change in one of the fastest-growing areas of digital finance.
A ministry official told local media that tax authorities currently view tokenized stocks as securities rather than virtual assets. As a result, taxation could be applied under existing capital markets regulations if the Financial Services Commission (FSC) formally determines that tokenized stocks qualify as securities.
韩国正进一步明确代币化股票的税务边界。
据 Bloomingbit 报道，韩国财政经济部表示，代币化股票应被视为证券，而非虚拟资产。若金融委员会确认其证券属性，可依据现行资本市场法立即征税，最快可能于今年下半年实施。
ChainInsight：监管重点正在从“资产形式”转向“底层权利”。对 RWA…
— ChainInsight链洞察 (@ChainInsightCN) June 12, 2026
Finance ministry views tokenized stocks as securities
According to the ministry, tokenized stocks may take the form of digital assets, but their underlying economic rights and structure more closely resemble traditional securities.
The FSC previously stated in its 2023 Token Securities Guidelines that securities issued in tokenized form remain subject to the Capital Markets Act. However, questions remain over whether standard securities such as stocks fall within the same framework.
Many investors have operated under the assumption that tokenized stocks would be treated similarly to virtual assets and remain outside existing securities tax rules. The latest comments indicate tax authorities may take a different view.
Is July’s regulatory guidance going to shape tax policy?
Market participants are closely watching the FSC’s planned amendments to token securities guidelines and related regulations, expected in July.
If the regulator formally classifies tokenized stocks as securities, tax authorities could move forward with taxation under existing laws without waiting for separate virtual asset tax rules to take effect.
Officials also noted that offshore transactions conducted through foreign platforms could still be subject to taxation if the assets are ultimately determined to be securities under Korean law.
Rapid market growth draws regulatory focus
The debate comes as demand for tokenized stocks continues to grow globally. These products allow investors to gain exposure to traditional equities through blockchain-based tokens that can be traded around the clock and settled more quickly than conventional securities.
According to RWA.xyz data cited in the report, the tokenized stock market reached approximately $1.47 billion in value as of early June, more than doubling since the start of the year and outpacing growth across the broader tokenized asset sector.
Notably, South Korean financial regulators have stepped back from a proposed rule that would have required cryptocurrency exchanges to automatically report large transfers involving overseas platforms and private wallets.
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