South Korea weighs fourth delay of crypto gains tax, eyes 2029 start: report - The Block

South Korea is reportedly considering another postponement of its planned tax on cryptocurrency gains, which would mark the fourth delay since the levy was first proposed. According to The Block, officials are weighing a start date as late as 2029, extending a timeline that has already slipped repeatedly.

The tax would apply to gains from digital-asset trading, and its repeated deferral reflects the difficulty policymakers face in balancing investor protection, market maturity, and administrative readiness. Each delay has pushed the question of how crypto income should be treated further into the future, leaving market participants to plan around an uncertain framework.

For observers, the key issue is timing rather than the tax's existence. A 2029 start would give exchanges and investors more runway to adapt, but it also signals that South Korean authorities remain cautious about introducing a levy while the market and its oversight infrastructure continue to evolve. What to watch: whether the reported delay is formally confirmed, and whether accompanying rules on reporting and enforcement are published alongside any new date. Until then, the policy remains provisional.