South Korea Emerges as Second Largest Crypto Market by Trading Volume

According to PANews, data from Kaiko reveals that as of June 2025, South Korea has become the second-largest cryptocurrency market globally, with trading volumes in Korean won (KRW) reaching $663 billion. This positions South Korea just behind the United States, which leads with $832 billion in crypto trading volume. Approximately one-third of South Korean adults hold cryptocurrency assets, a figure that is double that of the United States, highlighting the growing political and economic influence of digital currencies in the region. Despite this significant market presence, South Korea faces challenges such as market fragmentation, low adoption rates of stablecoins, and structural issues like the 'kimchi premium,' which continue to hinder institutional participation and product innovation.