Ferromagnetic-like properties of cuprous oxide (Cu 2 O) are induced through its interaction with chemisorbed surfactant poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP), which alters the intrinsic d 10 configuration of Cu ions. Structural and magnetism-related properties of intact Cu 2 O crystals (i-Cu 2 O) and those capped with PVP (c-Cu 2 O) were examined using various analytical instruments. SEM, TEM (corresponding selected area electron diffraction (SAED)), and XRD of i-Cu 2 O and c-Cu 2 O showed cubic and hexagonal shapes of single crystallinity with facets of {200} and {111}, respectively, resulting from the differential growth rates of the original identical crystals along the facets over time. Bulk magnetic susceptibility (χ) of i-Cu 2 O and c-Cu 2 O at room temperature in field-dependent magnetization and the difference in their magnetic moment in temperature-dependent magnetization showed diamagnetic and ferromagnetic properties, respectively. The difference in the fluorescence mode of X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra between i-Cu 2 O and c-Cu 2 O, showing no quadruple pre-edge peak for the transition 1s → 3d in Cu(II) ions with d 9 electronic configuration, indicates an orbital alteration on the surface of cCu 2 O caused by an interaction with PVP. Two peaks for c-Cu 2 O at higher binding energies in O 1s X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy may be indicative of the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) from O atoms of PVP to Cu ions of Cu 2 O, generating a chemical interaction through coordination bonding. Large hyperfine splitting constants in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of c-Cu 2 O support this interpretation, with septet hyperfine splitting suggestive of Cu−Cu interactions on the surface of c-Cu 2 O via the interaction with O atoms of PVP. These results demonstrate that PVP capping of Cu 2 O crystal (c-Cu 2 O) induces ferromagnetism of Cu(I) ions through coordination with O atoms of chemically adsorbed PVP. This may induce LMCT and Cu−Cu interactions that lead to changes in electronic configurations, deriving the ferromagnetic moments of c-Cu 2 O.