Coinone: availability and regulation
Coinone is a South Korean cryptocurrency exchange. It is registered as a virtual asset service provider with the Korean authorities and serves residents of South Korea who can complete local verification. It is not designed for users outside South Korea.
Information, not advice. This is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify the current rules with a qualified local professional and the official regulator before acting.
Coinone is one of the licensed cryptocurrency exchanges in South Korea. As of February 2026 it holds a virtual asset service provider registration with the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit and operates under the Virtual Asset User Protection Act, supervised by the Financial Services Commission. It serves residents of South Korea who hold a Korean bank account and phone number, and it restricts users in many other countries. To use it you generally need to complete local identity and bank verification.
What Coinone is
Coinone is a centralised cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2014 and based in Seoul, South Korea. It offers spot trading in Korean won pairs, along with staking and other services for the domestic market.
The platform is custodial, which means Coinone holds the assets in your account on your behalf rather than handing you the private keys. To deposit and withdraw Korean won, users must link a verified real name bank account under Korean rules.
Coinone is built for the South Korean market. Full verification generally requires a Korean mobile number and a Korean bank account, which means it is not practical for most users outside South Korea. Fees and supported assets change over time, so confirm the current schedule on the platform before trading.
Registrations and licences
- South Korea, registration. A virtual asset service provider registration with the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit, the financial intelligence body within the Financial Services Commission framework (as of February 2026).
- Real name banking. A real name account arrangement with a domestic bank, a legal requirement for Korean won deposits, reported to be with a Korean internet bank (as of February 2026).
- Information security. Information Security Management System certification, one of the conditions for operating a won trading exchange in South Korea (as of February 2026).
- Consumer protection. Operation under the Virtual Asset User Protection Act, which took effect in 2024 and sets user protection and custody rules for Korean exchanges (as of February 2026).
Each registration is stated as of 21 June 2026. Licences and registrations change. Confirm the current position on the regulator register and the licences page of the platform before acting.
Where Coinone is available
As of February 2026 Coinone serves residents of South Korea who can complete local verification with a Korean bank account and mobile number. It is a domestic exchange rather than a global one.
Coinone restricts users in many other countries, and reports indicate it does not serve residents of markets including the United States, the United Kingdom, and India. If you are outside South Korea, a platform that serves your own country is likely to be more practical. Confirm the current position on Coinone before acting.
Coinone is built for the South Korean market. If you are comparing exchanges, the most useful comparison is among the platforms that are genuinely available and licensed where you live.
Regulator and sources
The relevant authorities are the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit, which maintains the register of virtual asset service providers, and the Financial Services Commission, which oversees the Virtual Asset User Protection Act.
- Korea Financial Intelligence Unit, register of virtual asset service providers.
- Financial Services Commission, South Korea, materials on the Virtual Asset User Protection Act.
- Coinone, official help and notice pages.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Coinone outside South Korea?
Generally no. As of February 2026 Coinone is built for the South Korean market and full verification requires a Korean bank account and mobile number. Users in many other countries are restricted. If you live elsewhere, a platform that serves your country is likely to be more practical.
Is Coinone a licensed exchange?
Yes. As of February 2026 Coinone holds a virtual asset service provider registration with the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit and operates under the Virtual Asset User Protection Act. Confirm the current registration on the official register before acting.
Is Coinone available in the United States?
Reports indicate Coinone restricts users in the United States. As of February 2026 it is a domestic South Korean exchange and is not positioned as a United States service. Confirm the current position on the platform.
Does Coinone hold my crypto for me?
Yes. Coinone is a custodial platform, so it holds the assets in your account on your behalf. If you prefer to control your own private keys you would need a separate self custody wallet. This is general information, not advice.
Which regulator oversees Coinone?
Coinone is registered with the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit and operates under the Virtual Asset User Protection Act overseen by the Financial Services Commission. These bodies keep the most current public information.
Rules change frequently. Exchange availability, registrations, and the rules that govern them can change at short notice and vary by region. South Korea has tightened its virtual asset rules in recent years. The position on this page is dated 21 June 2026. Confirm the current status with the named regulator and the platform before you act.
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