South Korea may delay crypto gains tax for a fourth time: 2027 to 2029; BTC first needs policy certainty

`#SouthKoreaReportedlyWeighsFourthCryptoTaxDelay` appeared at No. 3 on the Binance Square Trends list, which showed “24 Discussing” at 21:49 Beijing time. The significance of this topic isn’t the word “delay” itself, but the fact that South Korea is dealing with a crypto market whose cross-border data and tax infrastructure are not yet fully prepared.

According to reports on October 26, South Korea’s presidential office is reportedly discussing another delay to the crypto gains tax with relevant agencies, potentially pushing it from 2027 to 2029. However, this is still under discussion and has not become law. The National Tax Service’s current guidance still sets January 1, 2027, as the starting date for taxing income from the transfer or lending of virtual assets, with a basic deduction of 2.5 million won and a tax rate of 20%.

For the market, expectations of a delay could ease near-term compliance time pressure for South Korean traders and reduce concerns about sudden policy changes. But that doesn’t mean new capital will automatically flow into BTC. The real variables are whether overseas trading data can be obtained, how domestic and overseas trades will be taxed fairly, and what the National Assembly ultimately puts into law as the terms of the “delay.”

If you’re following [BTC / USDT spot](https://www.binance.com/en/trade/BTC_USDT), first distinguish between “policy expectations” and “price confirmation.” As of 21:44, BTC was trading at around 79,732.52 USDT on Binance spot, down 0.823% over 24 hours. The most recently closed 4-hour candle (16:00–20:00) opened at 80,416.00 and closed at 79,737.85, a decline of about 0.84%. This shows that the price did not provide clear confirmation of an upward move as the news gained attention.

The futures market also shows no evidence of one-sided chasing. BTCUSDT USDⓈ-M perpetuals were trading at around 79,765.10 USDT, down 0.729% over 24 hours, with open interest at about 95,032 BTC and the latest funding rate at around +0.008538%. If you’re watching [BTC / USDT perpetuals](https://www.binance.com/en/futures/BTCUSDT), I’d focus on two conditions: first, spot needs to reclaim the area around 80,500 and hold it at a 4-hour close; second, open interest and spot volume should rise alongside the price, rather than the price being briefly pushed higher by perpetuals leverage alone.

That’s also my take on this policy news: it looks more like “removing a potential source of friction” than a direct bull-market catalyst. South Korea has already delayed the relevant tax several times. If this round remains at the discussion stage between the government and the National Assembly, the market will quickly move from trading the headline to waiting for a concrete bill. By contrast, if the final plan also addresses overseas trading data, reporting standards, and an implementation timeline, greater policy certainty could provide more lasting support for risk appetite toward major assets such as BTC and ETH. If you want to compare ETH, you can check [ETH / USDT spot](https://www.binance.com/en/trade/ETH_USDT), but don’t interpret South Korea’s tax discussions as a change in ETH’s project fundamentals.

On the chart, BTC’s 4-hour trend remains in the lower part of its recent range, with the MA35, MA99, and MA200 all above the current price. The highs, lows, and indicators shown in the screenshot are observations from a local chart and are not a substitute for official market data as of 21:44. My invalidation conditions are clear: if the National Assembly or government formally confirms the delay and provides an implementable framework for 2029, while BTC spot closes above 80,500 for two consecutive 4-hour candles, I would need to revise upward my current view that “policy expectations are present, but the price has not confirmed them.” If the delay is rejected, or BTC continues to fall below 79,400 while perpetual open interest rises, priority should go to guarding against a leveraged downturn—not treating a trending topic as a reason to buy.

Sources:

- Binance Square Trends page: https://www.binance.com/en/square/trends

- The Block: https://www.theblock.co/news/regulation/2026-10-26-south-korea-weighs-fourth-delay-crypto-tax-431649

- BusinessKorea: https://www.businesskorea.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=279635

- Current tax guidance from South Korea’s National Tax Service: https://www.nts.go.kr/nts/cm/cntnts/cntntsView.do?cntntsId=238935

Risk disclosure: This article discusses publicly available policy information and market structure only; it does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice. The reported delay has not been finalized. Intraday prices, funding rates, and open interest continue to change; spot and perpetual contracts have different risks, fees, and liquidation mechanisms.

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