South Korea’s top court says exchange‑held Bitcoin can be seized

The ruling confirms that Bitcoin in Korean exchange accounts is an “object of seizure” under criminal law, aligning Seoul with US and EU enforcement practices.

South Korea’s Supreme Court has handed down its first explicit ruling that Bitcoin held in centralized exchanges can be seized by investigators, marking a notable shift in how exchange‑custodied crypto is treated under criminal law. 

In a decision on Dec. 11, 2025, and disclosed via the court’s official bulletin, the court upheld the seizure of 55.6 Bitcoin (BTC) held in a Korean exchange account by a suspect under a money laundering investigation.

Bitcoin is now an “object of seizure” under the Criminal Procedure Act because it is electronic information with independent manageability, tradability, and economic value. 

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