In the evolving landscape of global finance, South Korea has emerged as a leading player, particularly in the cryptocurrency arena. The recent surge in the trading of cryptocurrencies against the South Korean won underscores a remarkable shift in the market dynamics of this digital economic sphere. Data from Kaiko, a prominent research firm, reveals that the Korean won has surpassed the US dollar to become the most traded currency against cryptoassets worldwide. In the first quarter of 2024 alone, transactions denominated in Korean won amounted to a staggering $456 billion on centralized exchanges, slightly edging out the dollar’s $445 billion.
This trend is not merely a statistical anomaly but a reflection of a deeper economic and cultural engagement with cryptocurrency within South Korea. The rise in won-denominated trading volumes is intricately linked to aggressive marketing strategies by local exchanges. Prominent platforms such as Bithumb and Korbit have recently initiated zero-fee trading promotions, aiming to divert traders from the market leader, Upbit, which commands over 80% of the local market share in spot trading volumes. These strategic moves by smaller exchanges highlight the fierce competition within the South Korean crypto market.
Moreover, the preference for high-risk, speculative investments is markedly pronounced in South Korea compared to other markets. The nation displays a unique inclination towards smaller, more volatile tokens—commonly known as altcoins—over the more established cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether. These altcoins constitute more than 80% of trading activity in the country, a testament to the adventurous investment spirit of Korean traders.
March 2024 saw a significant spike in local interest towards high-risk investment products, particularly the Volatility Shares’ 2x Bitcoin Strategy ETF, which carries the ticker BITX. This ETF is designed to offer high returns, albeit with commensurate risks, and has attracted substantial attention from Korean investors seeking lucrative opportunities in a volatile market.
The fervor for cryptocurrencies in South Korea has reached such heights that it became a central issue in the recent parliamentary elections. Political candidates were keen on attracting young, tech-savvy voters by making promises to delay the imposition of taxes on digital assets and to ease restrictions on investing in foreign Bitcoin ETFs like those in the United States.
In response to these developments, and particularly in the wake of the catastrophic $40 billion collapse of TerraUSD—a stablecoin venture spearheaded by Korean entrepreneur Do Kwon—South Korean regulators are set to implement the Virtual Asset User Protection Act. Starting in July, this legislation will introduce stringent measures aimed at bolstering user protection. These include severe penalties for criminal activities related to crypto exchanges, mandatory segregation of user deposits, and comprehensive protocols to cover liabilities in the event of hacks or system failures.
As South Korea continues to forge its path as a leader in the crypto market, it remains to be seen how these regulatory measures will reshape the landscape of digital asset trading. The country’s aggressive pursuit of innovation in the crypto sector, balanced with an emerging framework for enhanced user protection, paints a complex but promising picture of its future in global finance.
