South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (SFC) plans to lift a ban that prevented institutions trading crypto in response to the increase in global participation in the market, it said Thursday.

Non-profit organizations such as charities, university and school companies, law enforcement authorities will be able to sell their virtual assets in the first half of the year. In the second half, listed companies and professional investors get to buy and sell crypto.

Businesses and banks have been limited from trading virtual assets due to government regulations that were put into effect in 2017. At that time, the blocking was introduced to alleviate “overheated speculation” and address concerns about money laundering.

With the enforcement of the Virtual Active User Protection Act, a foundation of user protection has been established, the regulator said in his statement.

“Large countries abroad largely allow companies to participate in the market, and the market environment is changing as domestic companies also see an increase in demand for new blockchain-related companies,” the statement states.