Samsung’s $408M Dunamu deal signals bigger crypto push

Samsung Securities, Samsung SDS and Samsung Card will acquire a 4% stake in Dunamu, the operator of South Korea’s largest crypto exchange, Upbit.

The deal places Samsung’s financial and technology units closer to digital assets as South Korea prepares rules for stablecoins, tokenized securities and crypto payments. It also adds another large Korean name to the race for regulated crypto services.

Samsung units move into Dunamu

According to ETNews, the three Samsung affiliates approved the purchase of 1.39 million Dunamu shares from Kakao-linked entities for 612.8 billion won, or about $408 million. Samsung Securities will buy a 2% stake, while Samsung SDS and Samsung Card will each buy 1%.

The stake purchase gives the Samsung units direct exposure to Dunamu, which operates Upbit. The exchange remains South Korea’s largest crypto trading platform and a key company in the country’s digital asset market.

Additionally, Samsung Securities plans to work with Dunamu on tokenized securities issuance, distribution and digital asset services. The partnership could support financial products tied to blockchain-based assets as Korea prepares new market rules.

Samsung Card is also watching the possible launch of won-pegged stablecoins. The card unit plans to work with Dunamu on digital asset payments and distribution through Monimo, Samsung’s financial services app.

Samsung SDS adds blockchain infrastructure focus

Samsung SDS plans to combine its AI, cloud, security and data management services with Dunamu’s blockchain operating experience. The company aims to strengthen blockchain software and digital finance infrastructure for Korean financial firms.

“This equity investment is aimed at strengthening each affiliate’s competitiveness in digital asset-related businesses.” said a Samsung official.

A Dunamu official also said the company welcomes the investment and plans to work with Samsung on blockchain-based investment products, payment infrastructure and AI-related blockchain use.

Korean finance firms prepare for crypto rules

The Samsung deal follows Hana Bank’s recent agreement to buy a 6.55% stake in Dunamu for about 1 trillion won, or nearly $670 million. As previously reported by crypto.news, the Hana deal is expected to close on June 15 and would make the bank Dunamu’s fourth-largest shareholder.

The activity comes as South Korea works on the Digital Asset Basic Act. The planned framework is expected to cover stablecoins, exchange ownership, digital asset operators and investor protection. For Samsung, Hana and other Korean firms, Dunamu has become a direct way to prepare for the next stage of regulated crypto services.

Dunamu is also working through a merger process with Naver Financial, another deal that has drawn regulatory attention. That process, along with new digital asset rules, makes Upbit’s parent company a central target for banks, card firms and technology groups trying to secure positions before the market structure becomes clearer.