How a $300 mln Ripple fund revealed Korea’s crypto obsession

VivoPower International PLC has turned a standard joint venture agreement into a strategic expansion play.It now connects Seoul’s institutional crypto markets with the private equity of Ripple Labs, one of the industry’s most prominent blockchain companies.Additionally, its digital asset arm, Vivo Federation, has partnered with licensed South Korean asset manager Lean Ventures to create a dedicated investment vehicle.This fund will target the purchase of $300 million in Ripple Labs shares, tapping directly into the strong retail and institutional demand for Ripple [XRP]-linked assets.The initiative will advance within South Korea’s massive crypto market, a region often overlooked in Western coverage.VivoPower X Ripple LabsIn this process, Seoul-based Lean Ventures will establish the dedicated investment vehicle and secure the capital.This detail is crucial because it may involve firms like K-Weather, where VivoPower is finalizing a 20% stake, creating a potential synergy loop within its emerging South Korean ecosystem.The deal’s most significant financial element is its fee structure.Vivo Federation will receive a share of the management fees and performance carry, aiming to generate a net economic return of $75 million for VivoPower over three years.Importantly, VivoPower gains full exposure to the future upside in Ripple Labs and its XRP holdings without committing any of its own balance-sheet capital, giving the company a capital-light path to substantial revenue.Execs weigh in on the mergerRemarking on the same, Adam Traidman, Chairman of VivoPower’s Advisory Council, said, “As we have noted previously, South Korea is a highly strategic market for Vivo Federation, given that it is the largest holder by value and number of XRP tokens in the world.”Echoing similar sentiments, Chris Kim, Managing Partner of Lean Ventures, added, “There is significant appetite in South Korea amongst institutional and retail investors seeking to gain exposure to Ripple Labs shares.”The market has clearly signaled its approval, with VivoPower’s stock immediately climbing 13% to $2.88 following the announcement, demonstrating investor confidence in the firm’s strategic, fee-based pivot into digital assets. This move by VivoPower and Lean Ventures is perfectly timed to capitalize on South Korea’s significant regulatory shift.South Korea’s latest U-Turn Effective from the 16th of September, Seoul is reversing a long-standing prohibition, allowing crypto trading and brokerage firms to qualify as venture companies under new revisions to the Venture Business Act.By lifting a ban that had been in place since 2018, when regulators grouped digital assets with industries like gambling, the government is now providing digital asset firms access to critical tax incentives, financing programs, and state-backed investment support.The Ministry of SMEs and Startups explicitly states that the policy shift aims to align South Korea with global regulatory trends, boost innovation in areas like smart contracts, and strengthen national competitiveness against rivals like the United States. Thus, while the domestic crypto market remains dominated by giants like Upbit and Bithumb, the new rules are expected to accelerate innovation across the sector. Final ThoughtsBy targeting $300 million in Ripple Labs shares, VivoPower has engineered a capital-light model that delivers substantial upside while minimizing corporate risk.This venture exposes a strategic blind spot in Western markets, where Ripple equity demand is high but access remains limited.