OKX Ventures and Korea Investment & Securities are each set to invest KRW 80 billion, about $53 million, for 19.6% stakes in South Korean crypto exchange Coinone.

The transaction is expected to total KRW 160 billion, or roughly $106 million, across secondary share purchases and newly issued shares. CoinDesk reported that the deal remains subject to regulatory approval, so the practical change is not final until Korean authorities clear the ownership shift.

Coinone's shareholder structure would still keep existing management in place. CEO Cha Myunghun is expected to remain the largest shareholder with 27.8% and retain control, while Com2uS Holdings and affiliates would hold 25%. OKX Ventures and KIS would become joint third-largest shareholders.

The move is notable because it pairs a global crypto exchange investor with one of Korea's largest brokerages inside a domestic exchange. Local Korean reports had described the same talks as strategic investment discussions, with each buyer looking at about a 20% position.

For Coinone, the deal could add balance-sheet support and institutional distribution as Korea's market debates stablecoins, tokenized securities, and brokerage participation in digital assets. The conservative read is narrower: this is a significant exchange-capital deal, but its impact depends on approval, integration, and whether Coinone can translate new shareholders into products beyond spot trading.