Hana Financial Group will invest 1 trillion won in Dunamu, the operator of Upbit, Korea's largest cryptocurrency exchange. The strategic alliance aims to secure an early lead in the won-denominated stablecoin and blockchain-based financial ecosystem.
Hana Bank held a board meeting Monday and resolved to acquire 2.284 million shares of Dunamu held by Kakao Investment for approximately 1.0033 trillion won. The deal marks the largest investment in a digital asset company by a Korean commercial bank. Through the acquisition, Hana Bank will secure a 6.55% stake in Dunamu, becoming its fourth-largest shareholder after Chairman Song Chi-hyung (25.5%), Vice Chairman Kim Hyoung-nyon (13.1%), and Woori Technology Investment (7.2%).
Hana Financial plans to jointly pursue blockchain-based foreign currency remittances and the development of a won-denominated stablecoin ecosystem with Dunamu. It also plans to introduce a new type of comprehensive wealth management service that combines digital asset services with asset management areas such as funds, pensions, and trusts.
"Together with Dunamu, we will take the lead in building the K-blockchain ecosystem and concentrate all of the group's capabilities so that Korea's digital asset industry can leap to the level of a global leader," said Hana Financial Chairman Ham Young-joo.
