Korea's Crypto Volumes Plummet Amid Stock Market Surge

South Korea's crypto market has seen a significant decline in trading activity over the past year. According to Cointelegraph analysis, major exchanges such as Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit, and Gopax have experienced a sharp drop in volumes.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) benchmark has more than doubled over the period, while volumes across these crypto platforms contracted. Cointelegraph reviewed historical 24-hour volume readings for these exchanges on CoinGecko, comparing seven-day periods in July 2025 and July 2026.

The analysis showed an average drop of about 77% in trading volumes year-over-year, with a combined average daily volume falling by approximately 89%, from $2.82 billion to $305 million. ZDNet Korea reported that daily volume across the five exchanges was down 88% year-on-year on Monday.

The decline in crypto activity has led some platforms to sell their holdings, including Korbit, which raised about 1.6 billion won (approximately $1 million) by selling 15 Bitcoin and 60 Ether. This shift may weaken crypto liquidity and squeeze smaller platforms, reshaping how local investors allocate capital between speculative assets.