South Korea Tops Global Stock and Crypto Interest with 96% Surge

A study by Coin Insider has found that South Korea leads the world in online interest in stocks and crypto, with a 95.7% year-over-year increase in search interest over 13 weeks. This puts it first among more than 45 countries examined in the September 2026 retail investment study.

The study analyzed Google Trends data from 2025 and 2026 to compare how often people searched for ways to invest in stocks and cryptocurrencies. It found that Singapore placed second with a 66% growth, followed by Spain at about 61%, Argentina and Bangladesh completed the top five with increases of roughly 50% and 49% respectively.

Investment-related searches in the United States and Canada rose by around 30% from a year earlier. Coin Insider connected the study's findings to the increasing accessibility of investment products, particularly through mobile trading services and tokenized products. According to a financial analyst, 'investing has never been easier than it is today,' thanks to user-friendly mobile apps that have opened up markets to anyone.

The study also highlighted the role of international platforms in connecting users from countries with limited local markets to global assets. It noted that gross savings equaled 35.6% of GDP in South Korea, providing households and businesses with a substantial pool of funds that could potentially reach financial assets.