A joint press conference by Naver Corp., Naver Financial Corp. and Dunamu Inc. is held at Naver’s second headquarters, Naver 1784, in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, on Nov. 27, 2025. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean tech heavyweight Naver Corp. and Dunamu Inc., operator of the country’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Upbit, said Thursday they plan to invest 10 trillion won (US$6.8 billion) over the next five years to build an integrated ecosystem for artificial intelligence and Web3 technologies, aiming to position themselves as global contenders in digital finance.
The announcement came at a joint press event one day after Naver Financial agreed to acquire Dunamu through a share-swap deal that will make the crypto firm a wholly owned subsidiary. The move deepens Naver’s push into digital finance and expands its exposure to blockchain-based services.
Executives said the combined group will use its scale to merge Naver’s AI capabilities with Dunamu’s blockchain infrastructure to compete more aggressively in global fintech markets. Web3, which emphasizes decentralization and user-controlled digital assets, underpins services such as cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens.
Naver operates South Korea’s largest internet portal and has spent recent years building its AI capacity. Naver Financial oversees more than 80 trillion won in annual payments, while Dunamu runs Upbit, the world’s fourth-largest crypto exchange by trading volume.
A joint press conference by Naver Corp., Naver Financial Corp. and Dunamu Inc. is held at Naver’s second headquarters, Naver 1784, in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, on Nov. 27, 2025. (Yonhap)
“This moment—when mainstream blockchain meets the shift toward agentic AI—creates an inflection point for entirely new opportunities,” Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon said.
Dunamu Chairman Song Chi-hyung said the companies will jointly design next-generation financial infrastructure that fuses AI and blockchain, describing it as a platform intended to extend “beyond payments into all areas of finance and daily life.”
Kim Hyoung-nyon, Dunamu’s vice chairman, said he expects most assets to become tokenized and circulate on blockchains in the future. “Through this merger, we aim to help South Korea lead the borderless digital asset market,” he said.
Asked about speculation that Naver Financial could seek a Nasdaq listing, Choi said the company has “no current plans” to pursue an IPO. “Even if we consider it in the future, our priority will be to enhance shareholder value,” she said.
A view of Naver’s headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. (Yonhap)
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
