South Korea Crypto Exchange Profits Collapse 78% Amid Trading Downturn

South Korean crypto exchange operating profits plummeted 78% to KRW81.6 billion in the first half of 2026, as trading volume and customer deposits fell sharply.

The average daily crypto trading volume dropped 44% to KRW3.1 trillion from KRW5.4 trillion in the previous period, while won-denominated deposits fell 35% to KRW5.2 trillion.

The number of tradable accounts increased by 0.4%, but the value of crypto held through Korean exchanges dropped 33% to KRW58.9 trillion from KRW87.2 trillion at the end of 2025.