South Korean retail crypto trading volume drops 28% in Q1 2026

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South Korean retail crypto trading volume dropped 28% in Q1 2026, falling to $69 billion, according to Odaily. The decline in trading activity occurred as investors shifted funds to the domestic semiconductor sector. The Virtual Asset User Protection Act also contributed, restricting domestic exchanges to spot trading and increasing compliance requirements. The country remains the second-largest retail trading market globally, behind the U.S. at $212 billion.

Odaily Planet Daily report: In the first quarter of this year, retail cryptocurrency trading volume in South Korea reached $69 billion, ranking second globally behind the United States at $212 billion. Data shows that South Korea’s cryptocurrency trading volume for the quarter declined by 28% year-over-year, the largest drop among major global markets. In comparison, trading volumes were $21.2 billion in the United States, $4.8 billion in Russia, $4.6 billion in India, and $4 billion in Turkey.

Analysis indicates that the rise in South Korea’s stock market semiconductor sector has attracted significant retail investment. Additionally, South Korea’s Virtual Asset User Protection Act has raised compliance requirements, limiting domestic exchanges to spot trading only, while overseas platforms offer a broader range of products, including derivatives and leverage. (Korea Times)

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