韩国议会选举将加密货币视为战场

韩国议会选举凸显了该国在加密货币市场的重要地位。两个主要政党都试图通过提供与加密货币相关的激励措施来吸引选民。民主党承诺取消对持有比特币代币的交易所交易基金的限制，而总统尹锡烈领导的人民力量党则承诺推迟征收数字资产税。此次选举凸显了韩国对加密货币投资的高度参与，这可能会影响选举结果。

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

韩国议会选举：加密货币成为主要战场

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.

韩国首尔 - 韩国即将于 4 月 10 日举行议会选举，加密货币已成为政治讨论的前沿，凸显了该国作为全球加密货币强国的地位。两个主要政党都认识到加密社区在这场关键选举摊牌中的重大影响力，都在采取与加密货币相关的激励措施来吸引选民。

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.

韩国总统尹锡烈领导的人民力量党承诺推迟实施数字资产税，此举旨在安抚大量积极投资加密货币的民众。渴望挑战现任政党的反对党民主党已承诺取消对直接持有加密货币（包括美国比特币产品）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."

“我们致力于允许国内和海外的 ETF，”民主党政策专家、该党宣言撰稿人 Hwanseok Choi 表示。 “我们相信此类投资为我们的公民提供了获得不断增长的资产类别的机会。”

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.

将与加密货币相关的承诺纳入两大党的宣言，凸显了韩国对加密货币市场规模和潜力的日益认可。官方统计数据显示，2022 年上半年，超过 10% 的人口（超过 600 万人）通过注册交易所参与了加密货币市场。如此庞大的潜在选民群体使得加密货币成为即将到来的选举中不可避免的问题。

ETF Controversy

ETF争议

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.

围绕美国比特币 ETF 的争议也在韩国引起了共鸣。今年 1 月，美国证券交易委员会 (SEC) 批准了第一批直接投资比特币的 ETF，导致这些产品管理的总资产激增至约 570 亿美元。然而，韩国证券监管机构迅速宣布，在当地经纪此类产品可能违反法律，从而有效阻止了潜在的投机资本流入。

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.

这一决定引发了混乱并导致股市波动。人民力量党的宣言没有深入探讨争议，而是重点关注将计划对加密货币收益征税推迟到 2025 年预定时间范围之后。

South Korea's Crypto Ardour

韩国的加密热情

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.

韩国人热情拥抱最近的加密货币牛市，表现出对加密货币的巨大兴趣。 Upbit 是美国最大的加密货币交易所，其交易量一直位居全球顶级交易平台之列。韩国证券存管机构的数据显示，2023 年 3 月，韩国人向美国上市的比特币持有者 MicroStrategy Inc. 投资了超过 2 亿美元。他们还涌向美国加密期货 ETF，这是允许的产品。

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.

韩联社一份分析资产披露的报告显示，加密货币的普遍影响甚至延伸到了选举候选人，其中大约 7% 的人报告称自己接触过加密资产。

Crypto Risks

加密货币风险

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.

尽管人们对加密货币抱有广泛的热情，但必须承认与该行业相关的固有风险。韩国亲眼目睹了加密货币诈骗的毁灭性后果，Do Kwon 的 Luna 和 TerraUSD 代币臭名昭著的崩溃在 2022 年损失了超过 400 亿美元。

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，今年加密货币市场 9000 亿美元上涨的诱惑掩盖了 Luna 崩溃的记忆。专门的投资者保护框架计划于 7 月生效，两党均表示支持对该行业进行更广泛的监管。

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.

对加密货币的政治姿态，加上即将出台的投资者保护框架，标志着韩国对数字资产的接受程度不断提高。这与亚洲更广泛的趋势相一致，亚洲各国政府正在认识到加密货币的潜力，同时寻求降低风险。

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.

与许多美国官员对加密货币表现出的敌意相反，韩国政策制定者似乎采取了更为务实的做法。韩华投资证券公司 (Hanwha Investment & Securities Co.) 分析师 Yumin Kim 认为，现货加密 ETF 最终将获得批准，从而扩大加密市场在韩国成为更“广泛建立的投资资产”的潜力。