The National Pension Service has garnered significant attention in the financial investment sector after it was recently revealed that they have made substantial profits through indirect investments in the cryptocurrency market. Amid the record-breaking prices of Bitcoin in the Korean Won market, the National Pension Service increased its investment value significantly by purchasing stocks of Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange listed on the U.S. Nasdaq. This marks the first major success story of public fund investment in the cryptocurrency market, presenting new possibilities in investment strategy.
Last year, the National Pension Service invested approximately 26.6 billion Won to acquire 282,673 shares of Coinbase. Purchased at $70.5 per share, the value of these stocks soared to $229.15, marking a 3.25-fold increase in investment value. This led to a realized gain of approximately 59.8 billion Won for the National Pension Service, further drawing institutional investors’ attention to the cryptocurrency market.
This successful investment case demonstrates that the National Pension Service is not merely investing in traditional financial assets but is expanding its investment horizon into the new field of digital assets. Although it was not a direct investment in cryptocurrencies, the indirect profit gained through investment in a cryptocurrency exchange holds significant meaning.
The National Pension Service’s move is evaluated as a strategic decision to acknowledge the growth potential of the cryptocurrency market while seeking new sources of revenue within a manageable risk framework. This could provide a new perspective to other public funds and institutional investors on the cryptocurrency market, potentially influencing them to explore similar investment strategies in the future.
