Samsung Backs Upbit Operator Dunamu in Digital Asset Push

TLDR

• Samsung Securities, Samsung SDS, and Samsung Card will buy a combined 4 percent stake in Dunamu.
• The three Samsung affiliates will acquire about 1.39 million Dunamu shares from Kakao affiliates.
• Samsung Securities will hold 2 percent, while Samsung SDS and Samsung Card will each hold 1 percent.
• The investment supports Samsung’s plans in security tokens, virtual asset services and blockchain-based banking.
• Samsung Card is exploring future digital asset payments through Monimo if Korean regulators approve won-based stablecoins.

Samsung has expanded its digital asset strategy through a coordinated investment in Dunamu, the operator of Upbit.

According to the companies, Samsung Securities, Samsung SDS and Samsung Card will buy a combined 4 percent stake in Dunamu. The three affiliates will acquire about 1.39 million shares from Kakao affiliates. The transaction value stands at 612.8 billion won, or about $408 million.

https://x.com/koreatimescokr/status/2059876892757635409?s=20

Samsung Securities will hold 2 percent after the deal. Samsung SDS and Samsung Card will each hold 1 percent. The companies described the purchase as a strategic investment in Korea’s fast-changing digital asset market.

The Samsung affiliates said they expect new business opportunities beyond crypto trading. Their planned areas include security tokens, virtual asset services and blockchain-based banking.

Samsung Securities Targets Tokenized Securities

Samsung Securities plans to expand its cooperation with Dunamu in tokenized securities. The brokerage said the partnership could support issuance and distribution of security token offerings.

The firm already holds a place in Korea’s early STO market. Through Dunamu, Samsung Securities gains closer access to Upbit’s large retail crypto network.

Dunamu operates Upbit, which remains Korea’s largest crypto exchange by local market presence. The stake purchase therefore gives Samsung Securities a stronger position in digital asset infrastructure.

According to the companies, the investment does not only focus on exchange trading. They said tokenized assets and blockchain services will form key parts of the partnership.

Samsung Card Studies Digital Asset Payments

Samsung Card has linked the deal to future payment services. The card issuer has studied digital asset payments if Korean regulators approve won-based stablecoins.

The company has explored possible links between Dunamu’s systems and Monimo. Monimo is Samsung Financial Networks’ consumer finance super-app.

Through that connection, Samsung Card could support stablecoin payments through existing consumer channels. The company has tied that plan to regulatory approval.

Korean banks have also tested won-pegged coins for payment use. KB, Shinhan, Hana and Woori have worked on projects for domestic and cross-border transfers.

Samsung SDS Adds Blockchain Infrastructure

Samsung SDS brings technology and enterprise blockchain experience to the Dunamu alliance. The IT services affiliate recently won a major blockchain contract.

According to the Korea Securities Depository project plan, Samsung SDS will build its new blockchain platform. The system is scheduled to go live by February 2027.

That platform could support securities market infrastructure in Korea. With Dunamu, Samsung SDS now sits closer to exchange-linked digital asset services.

The companies did not announce a single shared product under the new investment. However, they named security tokens, virtual assets and blockchain banking as cooperation areas.

The Dunamu deal comes as Korea prepares digital asset rules, including stablecoin regulation. Major financial groups have already formed partnerships before final rules arrive.

Naver, Kakao and Samsung Electronics have joined banking groups on payment rail projects. These efforts focus on won-pegged coins and blockchain-based settlement systems.

By taking a direct stake in Dunamu, Samsung’s finance and IT units have placed capital behind that strategy. The companies said they want new business in a sector moving beyond crypto trading.

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