Cryptocurrency exchange giant Bybit is in talks to acquire Korbit, one of the oldest crypto exchanges in South Korea, according to media reports in the country.
Bybit, the second-largest crypto exchange, met with Korbit executives, Maeil Business reported, citing sources in the virtual asset industry. Korbit told the newspaper: “We cannot comment on ongoing cases.”
“We have noted the market rumors of a potential acquisition of Korbit, but this is not within our knowledge,” a Bybit spokesperson told CoinDesk. “Please keep an eye on our official website for future updates.”
A softening stance by regulators in the country, such as the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit (KoFIU) and the Financial Services Commission (FSC), is allowing more foreign firms to buy local exchanges, Maeil Business said.
Binance, Bybit’s larger rival, recently completed the acquisition of South Korean crypto exchange Gopax, marking its return to the domestic market after clearing regulatory hurdles spanning a two-year period.
Headquartered in the Gangnam-gu district of Seoul, Korbit was founded in 2013. In 2017, it was acquired by Korean game developer Nexon.
