Activity 157% above global average. Daily crypto volume ($10.3B) exceeded KOSPI ($7.8B). Korean Won is the #2 fiat for crypto trading globally.

Upbit controls ~70% with 13.26M users. Bithumb holds ~15%. An Upbit listing transforms a project overnight. Korea entry is a CEX listing strategy.

99% of discussion happens in Korean. Different narrative cycles, altcoin preferences, and info channels. Cold outreach doesn't work. The ecosystem is relationship-driven.

Korea's tech giants are going all-in: Kakao → stablecoin + STO + "Super Wallet." Naver → merged with Upbit's parent (Dunamu) in a $10.3B deal. Samsung → Galaxy wallet integration. SK → stablecoin consortium with Hana, Lotte, Hanwha.

Gains over ~$1,800 taxed at 20%. Reshaping holding strategies.

~3,500 companies eligible starting H2 2025. Could unlock institutional volume.

Stablecoins, exchange licensing, DeFi protocols. Expected mid-2025.