28 reported virtual asset service providers... Separate certification required for Google ads

South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) said 28 crypto asset operators have completed legitimate registration, and exchanges targeting Korean users must now clear both FIU reporting and a separate Google certification to run Google ads. Google’s policy permits exchange and software wallet advertising in Korea only on a restricted basis, requiring registered operators to satisfy local rules and the company’s own ad standards simultaneously. The FIU flagged misleading marketing claims such as “high returns,” “principal guaranteed,” “insider information,” and “global listing,” and warned that recommending unregistered operators may itself count as aiding unregistered business under the Act on Labeling and Advertising. The distinction matters because ad access now hinges on regulatory status rather than spend alone, raising the compliance bar for smaller or offshore exchanges seeking Korean retail users. Watch next for Google’s certification criteria and timelines, and for whether the 28-operator count rises as more venues complete FIU reporting.