韓國議會選舉將加密貨幣視為戰場

韓國議會選舉凸顯了該國在加密貨幣市場的重要地位。兩個主要政黨都試圖透過提供與加密貨幣相關的激勵措施來吸引選民。民主黨承諾取消對持有比特幣代幣的交易所交易基金的限制，而總統尹錫烈領導的人民力量黨則承諾推遲徵收數位資產稅。這次選舉凸顯了韓國對加密貨幣投資的高度參與，這可能會影響選舉結果。

South Korea's Parliamentary Elections: Cryptocurrencies Emerge as a Major Battleground

韓國議會選舉：加密貨幣成為主要戰場

Seoul, South Korea - South Korea's upcoming parliamentary election on April 10 has catapulted cryptocurrencies to the forefront of political discourse, underscoring the nation's status as a global crypto powerhouse. Both major political parties are embracing crypto-related incentives to woo voters, recognizing the substantial influence of the crypto community in this pivotal electoral showdown.

韓國首爾 - 韓國即將於 4 月 10 日舉行議會選舉，加密貨幣已成為政治討論的前沿，凸顯了該國作為全球加密貨幣強國的地位。兩個主要政黨都認識到加密社群在這場關鍵選舉攤牌中的重大影響力，都在採取與加密貨幣相關的激勵措施來吸引選民。

President Yoon Suk Yeol's People Power Party has pledged to delay the implementation of a digital asset tax, a move designed to appease a significant portion of the population who have actively invested in cryptocurrencies. The opposition Democratic Party, eager to challenge the incumbent, has promised to lift restrictions on exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that directly hold cryptocurrencies, including US Bitcoin products.

韓國總統尹錫烈領導的人民力量黨承諾推遲實施數位資產稅，此舉旨在安撫大量積極投資加密貨幣的民眾。渴望挑戰現任政黨的反對黨民主黨已承諾取消直接持有加密貨幣（包括美國比特幣產品）的交易所交易基金（ETF）的限制。

"We are committed to allowing ETFs, both domestic and overseas," declared Hwanseok Choi, a policy specialist for the Democratic Party and a contributor to the party's manifesto. "We believe that such investments provide access to a growing asset class for our citizens."

「我們致力於允許國內和海外的 ETF，」民主黨政策專家、該黨宣言撰稿人 Hwanseok Choi 表示。 “我們相信此類投資為我們的公民提供了獲得不斷增長的資產類別的機會。”

The inclusion of crypto-related promises in the manifestos of both major parties highlights the growing recognition of the crypto market's size and potential in South Korea. Official statistics indicate that over 10% of the population, exceeding 6 million individuals, participated in the crypto market through registered exchanges in the first half of 2022. This massive pool of potential voters has made cryptocurrencies an unavoidable issue in the upcoming election.

將與加密貨幣相關的承諾納入兩大黨的宣言，凸顯了韓國對加密貨幣市場規模和潛力的日益認可。官方統計數據顯示，2022 年上半年，超過10% 的人口（超過600 萬人）透過註冊交易所參與了加密貨幣市場。如此龐大的潛在選民群體使得加密貨幣成為即將到來的選舉中不可避免的問題。

ETF Controversy

ETF爭議

The controversy surrounding US Bitcoin ETFs has found its echo in South Korea. In January, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the first ETFs that directly invest in Bitcoin, leading to a surge in total assets under management of these products to approximately $57 billion. However, South Korea's securities regulator swiftly declared that brokering such products locally could violate the law, effectively blocking a potential inflow of speculative capital.

圍繞美國比特幣 ETF 的爭議也在韓國引起了共鳴。今年 1 月，美國證券交易委員會 (SEC) 批准了第一批直接投資比特幣的 ETF，導致這些產品管理的總資產激增至約 570 億美元。然而，韓國證券監管機構迅速宣布，在當地經紀此類產品可能違反法律，從而有效阻止了潛在的投機資本流入。

The decision ignited confusion and caused volatility in the stock market. The People Power Party's manifesto does not delve into the controversy, instead focusing on delaying planned taxes on crypto gains beyond the scheduled timeframe of 2025.

這項決定引發了混亂並導致股市波動。人民力量黨的宣言沒有深入探討爭議，而是重點關注將計劃對加密貨幣收益徵稅推遲到 2025 年預定時間範圍之後。

South Korea's Crypto Ardour

韓國的加密熱情

South Koreans have enthusiastically embraced the recent crypto bull market, demonstrating a remarkable appetite for cryptocurrencies. Upbit, the nation's largest crypto exchange, consistently ranks among the top trading platforms globally in terms of volume. Korea Securities Depository data reveals that South Koreans invested over $200 million into US-listed Bitcoin holder MicroStrategy Inc. in March 2023. They have also flocked to US crypto-futures ETFs, which are permitted products.

韓國人熱情擁抱最近的加密貨幣牛市，表現出對加密貨幣的巨大興趣。 Upbit 是美國最大的加密貨幣交易所，其交易量一直位居全球頂級交易平台之列。韓國證券存管機構的數據顯示，2023 年 3 月，韓國人向美國上市的比特幣持有者 MicroStrategy Inc. 投資了超過 2 億美元。他們也湧向美國加密期貨 ETF，這是允許的產品。

The pervasive influence of cryptocurrencies extends even to election candidates, with approximately 7% of them reporting exposure to crypto assets, according to a Yonhap report analyzing asset disclosures.

韓聯社一份分析資產揭露的報告顯示，加密貨幣的普遍影響甚至延伸到了選舉候選人，其中約 7% 的人報告稱自己接觸過加密資產。

Crypto Risks

加密貨幣風險

Despite the widespread enthusiasm for cryptocurrencies, it is essential to acknowledge the inherent risks associated with the sector. South Korea has witnessed firsthand the devastating consequences of crypto scams, with the infamous collapse of Do Kwon's Luna and TerraUSD tokens wiping out over $40 billion in 2022.

儘管人們對加密貨幣抱有廣泛的熱情，但必須承認與該行業相關的固有風險。韓國親眼目睹了加密貨幣詐騙的毀滅性後果，Do Kwon 的 Luna 和 TerraUSD 代幣臭名昭著的崩潰在 2022 年損失了超過 400 億美元。

However, the allure of the crypto market's $900 billion rally this year has overshadowed memories of the Luna debacle. A dedicated investor protection framework is scheduled to take effect in July, and both political parties have indicated their support for broader regulation of the industry.

然而，今年加密貨幣市場 9000 億美元上漲的誘惑掩蓋了 Luna 崩潰的記憶。專門的投資者保護框架計劃於 7 月生效，兩黨均表示支持對該行業進行更廣泛的監管。

Crypto Acceptance

加密接受

The political overtures towards cryptocurrencies, coupled with the upcoming investor protection framework, signal a growing acceptance of digital assets in South Korea. This aligns with a broader trend across Asia, where governments are recognizing the potential of cryptocurrencies while seeking to mitigate risks.

對加密貨幣的政治姿態，加上即將推出的投資者保護框架，標誌著韓國對數位資產的接受度不斷提高。這與亞洲更廣泛的趨勢一致，亞洲各國政府正在認識到加密貨幣的潛力，同時尋求降低風險。

In contrast to the hostility towards cryptocurrencies exhibited by many US officials, South Korean policymakers appear to be embracing a more pragmatic approach. Analyst Yumin Kim of Hanwha Investment & Securities Co. believes that spot-crypto ETFs will eventually be permitted, expanding the potential for the crypto market to become more "widely established as an investment asset" in South Korea.

與許多美國官員對加密貨幣表現出的敵意相反，韓國政策制定者似乎採取了更務實的做法。韓華投資證券公司 (Hanwha Investment & Securities Co.) 分析師 Yumin Kim 認為，現貨加密 ETF 最終將獲得批准，從而擴大加密市場在韓國成為更「廣泛建立的投資資產」的潛力。