South Korea Lifts Crypto Institutional Ban: World Vision Executes First ETH Sale, Opening Market Ahead of Presidential Election

South Korea has executed its first institutional cryptocurrency sale following the Financial Services Commission’s regulatory update, marking a significant shift toward crypto market liberalization. World Vision, a major nonprofit, sold 0.55 ETH (approximately $1,437) on Upbit after receiving the donation, becoming the first organization to take advantage of new rules permitting nonprofits, charities, and universities to sell digital assets via local exchanges. The revised regulatory framework requires these organizations to hold at least five years of audited accounts and comply with AML and KYC procedures. The FSC plans further deregulation in the third quarter of 2025, set to include publicly listed companies and professional investors. Both leading presidential candidates back expanding digital asset policies, supporting spot crypto ETFs and lowering transaction taxes. These ongoing policy shifts are expected to boost market confidence, attract institutional capital, and signal South Korea’s intent to become a leading crypto hub—a development likely to affect Ethereum, Bitcoin, and the wider digital assets sector.