A representation of virtual cryptocurrency bitcoin / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Local securities firms are ramping up investments in cryptocurrency exchanges as they seek to secure a foothold in the country’s emerging digital asset market ahead of the planned introduction of a tokenized securities framework, industry officials said Friday.

Korea Investment & Securities announced that it has signed a strategic investment agreement with cryptocurrency exchange Coinone, acquring a roughly 20 percent stake in the platform.

The deal will make the brokerage Coinone’s third-largest shareholder, following CEO Cha Myung-hoon, who holds a 30.36 percent stake, and Com2uS Holdings with 24.54 percent.

The securities firm said its investment…