The Supreme Court of Korea Rules Bitcoin Held in Exchange Accounts Can Be Seized

BlockBeats News, January 9th. According to Cointelegraph, on December 11, 2025, the Supreme Court of South Korea ruled that Bitcoin held in centralized exchanges is subject to seizure under criminal procedural law. The court upheld the decision to seize 55.6 bitcoins held by a money laundering investigation suspect. The ruling recognized Bitcoin as having independent controllability, negotiability, and economic value.

This ruling implies that in South Korea, users who hold Bitcoin on exchanges like Upbit and Bithumb face clearer legal risks. Cryptocurrency assets related to suspected crimes can be directly frozen and seized on exchanges, putting more pressure on exchanges to promptly comply with search warrants and maintain strict Know Your Customer (KYC) and tracking systems.