South Korea prosecutes crypto whale for alleged pump-and-dump scheme

South Korea’s financial watchdog just sent a message to crypto market manipulators: we’re watching, and we’re coming.

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) referred two cases of alleged cryptocurrency market manipulation to prosecutors on July 1, marking one of the most aggressive enforcement actions under the country’s relatively new Virtual Asset User Protection Act (VAUPA). One case involves a whale investor accused of cornering up to 50% of the global supply of a specific crypto asset. The other targets ultra-short-term manipulation of so-called “kimchi coins,” tokens that trade primarily on Korean exchanges.

The whale’s playbook

Over approximately two months, a single investor allegedly poured tens of billions of won into a crypto asset that was dual-listed on both domestic and international exchanges. The whale reportedly amassed a controlling position, acquiring as much as half the global supply of the targeted asset. Once the position was established, the trader allegedly used “linkage strategies” across domestic and international exchanges to artificially inflate prices in Korean markets. The FSC says the scheme resulted in substantial profits for the whale at the expense of everyday Korean investors.

The second case involved sophisticated short-term manipulation of kimchi coins. The alleged manipulators used API-driven market orders and strategically placed high-price limit buys on online channels to pump prices before executing coordinated sell-offs.

VAUPA flexes its muscles

Both cases fall under VAUPA, which took effect in July 2024. The law was designed specifically to address unfair trading practices in crypto markets, giving Korean regulators tools they previously lacked to go after manipulation, insider trading, and other market abuses in digital assets.

These aren’t the first enforcement actions under the law. The earliest observed cases came in January 2025, involving rapid pump-and-dump cycles that reportedly generated hundreds of millions of won in profits for the perpetrators.

The FSC’s decision to refer these cases during a regular meeting, rather than at a special session, suggests that crypto market enforcement is becoming part of the regulator’s routine operations rather than a one-off event.

Following the referrals, the FSC issued a public warning advising investors to exercise caution with assets showing unexplained surges in price or volume.

What this means for investors

The dual-listed nature of the whale case is particularly relevant for international investors. The alleged manipulation crossed borders, using positions on international exchanges to influence prices on domestic ones.

The emphasis on API-driven manipulation in the kimchi coin case signals where regulators are focusing their technical capabilities, indicating they are investing in the forensic tools needed to build cases around these specific techniques.

For retail investors in Korean markets specifically, the FSC’s warning about unexplained price surges is worth taking seriously. If a token’s price is spiking without a clear catalyst, someone with a lot of capital and a plan might be on the other side of that trade.

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