Hanwha Asset Management has partnered with the Solana Foundation to accelerate its digital asset strategy in South Korea. The two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen Solana’s local ecosystem and expand institutional-ready products tied to the blockchain network. Under the agreement, Hanwha will support training around Solana’s development tools and broader ecosystem.
Additionally, the firm plans to explore Solana-based exchange-traded products as it builds regulated options for investors. Hanwha also intends to publish custody guidelines designed for Solana-linked assets. Hence, the partnership aims to improve operational standards as institutions seek safer entry points.
The company framed the collaboration as a step toward building a stronger digital asset foundation inside Korea’s fast-moving market. Moreover, the Solana Foundation plans to support adoption efforts through deeper ties with local financial infrastructure. Solana Foundation President Lily Liu described South Korea as a strategic market for global crypto growth.
She said, “Korea is emerging as a key market for global crypto adoption, where regulatory clarity, institutional infrastructure and world-class developer talent converge.” Liu also explained the role the partnership could play in expanding the network’s reach. She said, “This MOU bridges the trusted infrastructure of a leading conglomerate with the innovation of the Solana ecosystem, enabling digital asset innovation to scale globally through Hanwha’s international network.”
Solana’s growth in the exchange-traded market has added momentum to the project’s institutional push. In the United States, Solana exchange-traded funds began trading in late 2025. This rollout started with the Bitwise Solana Staking ETF in October.
Eight Solana-linked ETFs now trade on the New York Stock Exchange. Their combined assets under management have surpassed $1 billion in just over two months. Meanwhile, Hanwha has positioned itself as an early mover in Korea’s asset management space for digital assets.
Between 2020 and 2021, it formed a dedicated digital asset team and published research. Additionally, the firm created a Digital Asset Business Team last year under its chief marketing officer. Hanwha’s chief marketing officer, Choi Young-jin, said the talks with Liu shaped the agreement.
He also said the firm plans to build digital income-focused business models around Solana. Consequently, both sides appear to be aligning for a longer-term expansion in Korea.
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