South Korean Crypto Exchange Profits Plummet 78% in H1 2026

The crypto market in South Korea has taken a hit in the first half of 2026, with operating profits at exchanges falling by nearly 78%. The decline is attributed to lower Bitcoin prices, weaker trading activity, and a shift of retail investors into domestic equities.

According to data released by South Korean financial regulators, the total value of crypto assets held on domestic exchanges fell 33% to 58.9 trillion won ($42 billion) by the end of June 2026, down from 87.2 trillion Won at the end of 2025.

Average daily trading volumes also declined to 3.1 trillion Won from 5.4 trillion Won over the same period.