South Korean Crypto Holdings Halve Amid Regulatory Changes

South Korean investors have seen a significant decrease in their cryptocurrency holdings, according to data from the Bank of Korea submitted to the National Assembly. The holdings fell from 121.8 trillion won to 60.6 trillion won over the course of a year, marking a drop of more than 50%. According to NS3.AI, the average daily trading volume on the country's top five exchanges also saw a decline, falling from $11.6 billion in December 2024 to $3 billion in February this year. Additionally, Korean won deposits decreased from 10.7 trillion won to 7.8 trillion won. In response to these changes, South Korean regulators are planning to implement stricter anti-money laundering rules in August. Furthermore, the Ministry of Economy and Finance has announced that a 22% tax on crypto gains will be enforced starting January 1, 2027. These regulatory measures are part of the government's efforts to tighten control over the cryptocurrency market and ensure compliance with financial regulations.