Published October 26, 2026 · 16:45 US/Eastern
South Korea Weighs Fourth Delay of 22% Crypto Tax to 2029 - Bitcoin Foundation
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South Korea is reportedly weighing a fourth postponement of its planned 22% tax on cryptocurrency gains, with the effective date potentially pushed to 2029. The levy, which would apply to income from digital-asset transactions, has already been deferred several times since its original introduction, reflecting the difficulty policymakers face in balancing revenue ambitions with investor-protection and market-stability concerns.
The repeated delays matter because they signal that the regulatory framework around crypto in one of Asia's most active retail markets remains unsettled. Each postponement gives exchanges, investors, and tax professionals more time to prepare, but it also extends uncertainty over how gains will eventually be calculated, reported, and enforced. For market participants, the key question is not only whether the tax arrives in 2029, but what reporting infrastructure and thresholds will accompany it.
What to watch: official confirmation of any delay, the final scope of taxable events, and whether accompanying rules on exchange reporting and record-keeping are published alongside the schedule. Until then, the proposal should be treated as a policy signal rather than a settled outcome.
Source: Bitcoin Foundation