South Korean Crypto Exchanges Suffer 78% Profit Drop Amid Trading Downturn
South Korean crypto exchange operating profits plummeted 78% to KRW81.6 billion in the first half of 2026, according to a recent report from the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit (KoFIU). The sharp decline was attributed to a significant drop in trading volume, customer deposits, and the value of cryptocurrencies held domestically.
Average daily trading volume on South Korean exchanges fell 44% to KRW3.1 trillion, while customer deposits dropped 35% to KRW5.2 trillion. The number of tradable accounts, however, increased by 0.4% to 11.175 million.
The decline in trading activity was not limited to exchanges; external crypto transfers also fell 41% to KRW62.8 trillion. The number of unique crypto assets in circulation decreased by 5% to 673, while single-exchange listings dropped to 234 from 296.
The report highlighted concerns over liquidity, with 93 assets listed on only one Korean platform having market values of KRW100 million or less. The KoFIU warned that these assets are exposed to low liquidity and sharp price moves.