South Korea’s KRX Tightens Listing Rules for Tech-Exception Firms Shifting Into Crypto Treasury

South Korea’s Korea Exchange (KRX) has revised its listing rules to impose stricter limits on companies listed under technology-exception provisions, including tighter scrutiny for firms that later shift their core business into areas such as virtual asset treasuries. According to Foresight News, Digital Asset reported that under the new rules, a technology-exception listed company that changes its main business within five years after listing—such as by amending its articles of incorporation to move into virtual asset treasury operations or other fields—will be subject to substantive delisting review. KRX said the change is intended to prevent companies from using a technology-exception listing to enter the market and then effectively changing their business to pursue virtual asset-related activities, which could undermine the technological capability and growth potential originally recognized at the time of listing. Separately, KRX adjusted previously relaxed delisting criteria for technology-exception listed firms related to factors such as revenue and large losses. The exchange changed these easing measures into a conditional format requiring companies to disclose a “corporate value enhancement plan,” aiming to strengthen communication with investors.