Naver and Upbit Invest $7 Billion in AI and Blockchain

Naver Corp and Dunamu Inc. have announced a significant investment of $7 billion into AI and blockchain technologies. This follows their merger, with Naver Financial gaining complete ownership of Dunamu through an all-stock deal.

The investment aims to integrate AI infrastructure with blockchain technology. This merger brings together Naver, Korea’s leading search engine, and Upbit, one of the largest global cryptocurrency exchanges. Dunamu’s blockchain expertise is expected to drive innovation. As Choi Soo-yeon, CEO of Naver, emphasized the strategic timing: “This moment—when mainstream blockchain meets the shift toward agentic AI—creates an inflection point for entirely new opportunities.”

Naver and Upbit Announce $7 Billion Tech Merger

This investment could position Korea at the forefront of digital finance, potentially setting standards in blockchain technology. Industry leaders highlight the vast opportunities in AI-driven blockchain solutions, especially in tokenization and DeFi integration.

Finance professionals believe this could transform the landscape by combining Naver’s AI strengths with Upbit’s crypto prowess. This initiative aligns with previous industry trends, pointing to an era where blockchain and AI could reshape financial systems.

Korea to Lead in AI-Powered Blockchain Finance

Historically, substantial mergers like Binance’s acquisition of WazirX have expanded market liquidity and accelerated adoption. The Naver-Dunamu union represents a similar potential to catalyze the fintech sector in Asia.

Experts suggest this merger could enhance Korea’s role in the global digital asset market, creating an ecosystem supportive of stablecoins and decentralized applications. They anticipate growth in crypto adoption given the merger’s scale and strategic focus.