Binance Accelerates Expansion in South Korea: Leveraging GOPAX to Seize the Institutional Market, Targeting 2026 Payment Infrastructure

Binance is ramping up its expansion in South Korea via its subsidiary GOPAX, targeting institutional crypto adoption by 2026, according to a January 30 Korea Times report. Last year, 23% of global crypto market growth stemmed from institutional adoption, Binance’s Asia-Pacific head SB Seker told The Korea Times in a Friday video interview. “We believe if South Korea advances its regulatory framework, the growth trend will mirror that—if not be stronger,” he added. Beyond core services like spot trading and digital asset products, Binance is building infrastructure for institutional fund management and cross-border stablecoin settlements. Seker expects once regulations are clarified, South Korean firms will begin allocating crypto assets to their balance sheets and diversifying risk across exchanges. Payments are another priority. While crypto payments and remittances remain restricted for domestic South Korean users, Binance is partnering with licensed local payment service providers to offer onshore transaction services to overseas visitors—a move Seker hopes will set a positive example for regulators.