Shinhan Bank, the South Korean-based oldest banking institution, has announced to introduce digital-asset custody services with a new investment.
It has been reported by news agency Yonhap that the bank has invested in Korea Digital Asset Trust (KDAC), an industry consortium of businesses that provide digital-asset custody.
However, the initiative was launched by Korbit in collaboration with blockchain startup Blocko and digital-asset research company Fair Square Lab. With the new investment, Shinhan Bank moves closer to offering its own cryptocurrency custody business.
In August 2020, Shinhan Bank announced its plans to introduce crypto custody alongside another major South Korean bank, Woori.
The oldest bank in South Korea, Shinhan Bank, just made a big splash by investing in a crypto custody service backed by Korbit. This makes them the third bank in the country to enter the crypto fray. https://t.co/3W1cyiGTLc — Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) January 11, 2021
Yong-Byung Cho, the chairman and CEO of Shinhan Financial Group, said that digital-asset custody will benefit from the bank’s compliance capabilities and custody experience.
He added:
“We will secure competitiveness in custody services and proactively respond to the rapidly changing digital asset market due to the implementation of the Special Financial Information Act.”
Likewise, Shinhan Bank has previously invested in companies backing the KDAC initiative.
Thus, in August 2019, Shinhan Bank participated a $7.5 million funding round for Blocko, as the bank is also involved in blockchain-related developments like blockchain stock lending.
Source: Cointelegraph