South Korea blocks access to 27 unregistered crypto platforms

South Korea has moved to block domestic access to websites operated by 27 virtual-asset service providers that authorities say were serving the country without the required registration. The list includes international platforms such as KuCoin, MEXC, Phemex, BingX and BitMart.

The measure was announced on October 13, 2026 by the Financial Intelligence Unit under the Financial Services Commission. The communications authority reviewed the requests on October 6 and 7 and approved blocking or service restrictions aimed at South Korean users.

The geographic scope matters: this is not a worldwide closure of the exchanges involved. The action concerns access from South Korea and services offered to Korean residents without local registration.

To operate legally in the country, a crypto service provider must register with the FIU and comply with anti-money-laundering, security and user-protection requirements. The latest action extends to websites a strategy previously applied to mobile apps.

Sources: Financial Services Commission and Korea Financial Intelligence Unit, October 13, 2026; CoinDesk, October 13, 2026. Informational content only; not financial advice.