Seeing the discussion about STO's 44% increase, you need to first distinguish between two concepts—don't confuse things with similar names.

One is StakeStone's token STO, a cross-chain liquidity infrastructure project used for governance and ecosystem incentives; the other is Security Token Offering, a securities-based token financing method. The recent surge is most likely a phase of the first type, combined with the compliance narrative of the second, which has ignited the entire sector.

**First, look at the actual situation of the STO token**

StakeStone mainly engages in cross-chain liquidity business. After listing on Binance in May last year, it experienced a rapid surge, and again in mid-January 2026, driven mainly by Korea's STO legislation. As of January 18, the price is around $0.08 (approximately 0.53 RMB), with some platforms showing a 24-hour increase approaching 40%—which is about the 44% you mentioned. The circulating supply is roughly 225 million, with a total market cap of about $180 million.

Why did it rise? Several factors combined—Korea's newly passed STO legislation in early 2026, which allows blockchain to directly issue tokenized securities, significantly boosted sentiment in the RWA and compliant token sectors. Plus, StakeStone's liquidity staking business is advancing, new exchanges listing it, and institutional attention has increased, all fueling market enthusiasm.

**What exactly did Korea's legislation change?**

This legislation in Korea essentially provides a framework for securities tokens—allowing tokens to represent equity, debt, or asset-backed securities, and to circulate within a regulated environment. This is an innovation in financing, quite different from StakeStone's governance tokens.

**Be aware of the risks**

Cryptocurrency assets are inherently volatile; a 44% increase often comes with a quick retracement. Confusing concepts can easily lead to poor investment decisions. Although Korea's legislation has been implemented, the launch of compliant projects and approval of exchange licenses still take time. In the short term, market sentiment is driving the price, but in the medium to long term, the actual viability of projects will be key.

**Practical advice**

If you want to participate, focus on StakeStone's TVL performance, who they are partnering with for cross-chain expansion, and token unlock plans—these are fundamental data points. Also, keep an eye on Korea's regulatory developments—when will exchange licenses be issued, and which compliant projects will pilot? Most importantly, manage your risks—don't allocate too high a proportion of your portfolio to crypto assets, set stop-loss points, and don't get blinded by the surge.