South Korea Halts Spot Crypto ETF Trading Amid Regulatory Pushback

South Korea has abruptly halted trading of a popular spot crypto ETF, signaling the country’s stringent stance on digital asset investments. This unexpected move comes after financial regulators issued an order to major brokerages like Toss Securities, Meritz Securities, KB Securities, and Samsung Securities, who briefly allowed the Grayscale CoinDesk Crypto 5 ETF (GDLC) trading. While investors can still trade cryptocurrencies directly on approved exchanges, this halt highlights South Korea’s cautious approach toward integrating digital assets into traditional financial products.