South Korea bitcoin ban? As cryptocurrency explodes, government flirts with regulation

South Korean is studying ways to regulate speculative trading in cryptocurrencies as the latest surge in prices stokes a craze over bitcoins.

The country's financial regulator said Friday (8 December) that it has ruled out using bitcoin for derivative products. The decision effectively bans investing in bitcoin futures that will start trading on the Chicago Board Options Exchange this weekend.

South Koreans tend to be tech savvy and used to trading cash in online games.

Many are betting their incomes and even retirement packages on bitcoins and other virtual currencies.

The country has just 50 million people but accounts for about one-fifth of global bitcoin trades.

As the price of bitcoin surged more than 20% overnight to top $17,000 before falling back to the $15,000 level, South Korean internet users were going online to seek advice about which cryptocurrencies to pick or how to download apps.

The lure is apparent: One bitcoin was worth less than $1,000 at the start of the year.

"People are probably affected by those who say they made a lot of money from bitcoins," said Kim Do-hyung, a 21-year-old who invested in bitcoins and another cryptocurrency called stratis.

"Young people don't make a lot of money. It looks like easy money for them," he said.

Kim, who just finished the country's mandatory military service last month, put all his monthly salary saved up from his two-years of duty into cryptocurrencies in November.

His profit surged four-fold, reaping enough to pay his tuition when he returns to college next year and pay his rent in Seoul, he said by phone from a city of Masan, 298 kilometers south of Seoul.

Earlier this week, South Korea's justice ministry said it would consider ways to regulate cryptocurrency exchanges and plans to devise stiff penalties for crimes related to such transactions.

Local investors believe the cryptocurrency boom is still in its early stages. "Virtual currency just made a start in South Korea so I think the price will go further up," Kim said.