▲ The logo of Nextrade, South Korea's alternative exchange, is shown in this file photo taken on Aug. 20, 2025. (Yonhap)

Nextrade-fractional investment trading

Nextrade aims to open market for fractional investment by Q4

SEOUL, Feb. 19 (Yonhap) -- A consortium led by Nextrade (NXT), South Korea's alternative stock trading platform, said Thursday it seeks to open a market for fractional investment trading services by the fourth quarter.

"We plan to push forward with relevant procedures, including securing related personnel, establishing trading systems and receiving final approval, with the goal of opening a market (for fractional investments) by the fourth quarter of 2026," NXT said in a press release.

On Friday, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) approved preliminary licenses for two consortia to operate an over-the-counter trading platform for fractional investments, which will allow investors to buy and sell portions of assets, such as stocks, real estate and even artwork.

The two selected groups were a consortium led by NXT and the KDX consortium, led by the Korea Exchange, South Korea's main bourse operator.

Local startup Lucentblock, which operates a platform for fractional investment trades in real estate, was not granted a preliminary license. The FSC has cited the startup's weak capital strength and insufficient conflict-of-interest control as some of the reasons behind the decision.

The startup has called the decision unfair, claiming it was one of the first movers in the fractional investment trading sector, and has operated such services for years as a government regulatory sandbox project.

It even filed a complaint with the Fair Trade Commission, alleging NXT stole key and undisclosed information about the company. Lucentblock argued that NXT signed a non-disclosure agreement with the startup for a potential investment review prior to the FSC's license evaluation.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]