Finance Share Share this article Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail $110 billion in crypto left South Korea in 2 Finance Share Share this article Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail $110 billion in crypto left South Korea in 2

$110 billion in crypto left South Korea in 2025 owing to strict trading rules

2026/01/02 22:25
5 min read
Share
Share this article
Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail

$110 billion in crypto left South Korea in 2025 owing to strict trading rules

While South Korean financial officials acknowledged the need for new rules, disagreements over stablecoins delayed a broader crypto framework.

By Olivier Acuna|Edited by Sheldon Reback
Jan 2, 2026, 2:25 p.m.
South Korea saw crypto outflows from domestic CEXs to foreign platforms in 2025. (Yu Kato/Unsplash modified by CoinDesk)

What to know:

  • South Koreans transferred over 160 trillion won to foreign crypto exchanges last year due to domestic regulatory restrictions.
  • The delay in implementing the Digital Asset Basic Act has left a regulatory gap, pushing investors to offshore platforms.
  • Domestic exchanges face strict regulations, limiting them to spot trading, while foreign platforms offer more complex products.

South Koreans moved more than 160 trillion won ($110 billion) from local crypto exchanges to foreign platforms last year due regulatory restrictions in the country, one of Asia’s most active digital asset markets, a joint Coingecko and Tiger Research report revealed Friday.

The regulatory framework has been slow to evolve. In December, the long-awaited Digital Asset Basic Act (DABA), a sweeping framework meant to govern crypto trading and issuance, was delayed because of disagreements among regulators over stablecoin issuance. The Virtual Asset User Protection Act, which came into force in 2024, does not address market structure issues such as leverage or derivatives trading.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
Sign me up

The regulatory gap raised concerns among market participants that Korea’s centralized crypto exchanges (CEXs) are increasingly unable to compete with offshore platforms offering more complex trading products.

“The number of South Korean investors holding large sums in overseas cryptocurrency exchange accounts has more than doubled in a year, reflecting both the global market’s resurgence and growing frustration with South Korea’s restrictive trading environment,” Korean news agency Aju Press reported in November.

The research found that cryptocurrency has become a primary investment asset in South Korea, with investor numbers rising to 10 million and exchanges such as Upbit and Bithumb generating revenues in the trillions of won.

Growth, however, is stagnating, even as Korean investors continue to trade crypto actively and increasingly turn to foreign-based platforms such as Binance and Bybit, according to the report.

The report said the main reason Korean investors are moving funds offshore is the gap in investment opportunities, as South Korea prohibits domestic exchanges from offering crypto derivatives to retail traders.

“Domestic CEXs face strict regulations that limit them to spot trading, while foreign CEXs fill this gap with more complex products, including leveraged derivatives,” it said.

South KoreaRegulationsCrypto Exchange

More For You

KuCoin Hits Record Market Share as 2025 Volumes Outpace Crypto Market

Commissioned byKuCoin

KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.

What to know:

  • KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
  • This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
  • Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
  • Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
  • Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
View Full Report

More For You

Bitcoin miner Bitfarms exiting Latin America with $30M sale of Paraguay site

The company is selling the site to the Sympatheia Power Fund, managed by Singapore-based Hawksburn Capital.

What to know:

  • Bitcoin miner Bitfarms is set to exit Latin America with the sale of its site in Paso Pe, Paraguay.
  • Bitfarms will receive $9 million upfront and up to $21 million over the subsequent 10 months based on certain payment milestones.
  • The deal follows Bitfarms' sale of a site in Yguazú, Paraguay to bitcoin mining company Hive Digital Technologies just under a year ago.
Read full story
Latest Crypto News

Bitcoin miner Bitfarms exiting Latin America with $30M sale of Paraguay site

Iran accepts cryptocurrency as payment for advanced weapons

Turkmenistan legalizes crypto mining and exchanges to boost the economy

Internet Computer climbs back to $3 as short-term momentum improves

BONK jumps more than 10% in 24 hours as momentum pushes price higher

Bitcoin ETFs lose record $4.57 billion in two months

Top Stories

Bitcoin's squeeze sets stage for major price swing

Turkmenistan legalizes crypto mining and exchanges to boost the economy

Bitcoin miner Bitfarms exiting Latin America with $30M sale of Paraguay site

Iran accepts cryptocurrency as payment for advanced weapons

Tether adds nearly $800 million in bitcoin, bringing holdings above 96,000 BTC

December FOMC minutes show the Fed is worried short-term funding could seize up

Disclaimer: The articles reposted on this site are sourced from public platforms and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the views of MEXC. All rights remain with the original authors. If you believe any content infringes on third-party rights, please contact service@support.mexc.com for removal. MEXC makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the content and is not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided. The content does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, nor should it be considered a recommendation or endorsement by MEXC.

You May Also Like

Galaxy Digital Authorizes $200M Share Buyback as Stock Rebounds

Galaxy Digital Authorizes $200M Share Buyback as Stock Rebounds

Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd. announced this week that its board has authorized a $200 million share repurchase program for the company’s Class A common stock. Galaxy
Share
Coinstats2026/02/08 07:30
Kalshi debuts ecosystem hub with Solana and Base

Kalshi debuts ecosystem hub with Solana and Base

The post Kalshi debuts ecosystem hub with Solana and Base appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. Kalshi, the US-regulated prediction market exchange, rolled out a new program on Wednesday called KalshiEco Hub. The initiative, developed in partnership with Solana and Coinbase-backed Base, is designed to attract builders, traders, and content creators to a growing ecosystem around prediction markets. By combining its regulatory footing with crypto-native infrastructure, Kalshi said it is aiming to become a bridge between traditional finance and onchain innovation. The hub offers grants, technical assistance, and marketing support to selected projects. Kalshi also announced that it will support native deposits of Solana’s SOL token and USDC stablecoin, making it easier for users already active in crypto to participate directly. Early collaborators include Kalshinomics, a dashboard for market analytics, and Verso, which is building professional-grade tools for market discovery and execution. Other partners, such as Caddy, are exploring ways to expand retail-facing trading experiences. Kalshi’s move to embrace blockchain partnerships comes at a time when prediction markets are drawing fresh attention for their ability to capture sentiment around elections, economic policy, and cultural events. Competitor Polymarket recently acquired QCEX — a derivatives exchange with a CFTC license — to pave its way back into US operations under regulatory compliance. At the same time, platforms like PredictIt continue to push for a clearer regulatory footing. The legal terrain remains complex, with some states issuing cease-and-desist orders over whether these event contracts count as gambling, not finance. This is a developing story. This article was generated with the assistance of AI and reviewed by editor Jeffrey Albus before publication. Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters: Source: https://blockworks.co/news/kalshi-ecosystem-hub-solana-base
Share
BitcoinEthereumNews2025/09/18 04:40
First family moves on from Wall Street as Eric Trump backs crypto

First family moves on from Wall Street as Eric Trump backs crypto

Eric Trump says crypto could actually save the U.S. dollar. Not kill it. Not weaken it. On Tuesday, just hours after ringing the Nasdaq opening bell for American Bitcoin’s public debut, a company where he’s got over $500 million stashed, Eric told the Financial Times that crypto is “arguably” the reason the dollar might stay alive. “Mining bitcoin here, and being financially independent and running a kind of financial revolution out of the United States of America…I think it arguably saves the US dollar,” he said. The timing wasn’t random. Eric’s comments came while the dollar was getting dragged. This year, it’s been tanking… fast. The cause? President Donald Trump’s trade war and his endless public jabs at the Federal Reserve, which just slashed interest rates again. The Fed cut rates yesterday, for the first time this year, right after Donald’s latest round of pressure. It’s not helping. Investors are losing confidence in what’s supposed to be the safest currency on Earth. Eric says crypto is fun, family is done with Wall Street Eric isn’t just pushing crypto from the sidelines. His family has gone full throttle into the space. We’re talking a Truth Social Bitcoin ETF, a Bitcoin treasury tied to Trump Media, and two meme coins; $MELANIA and $TRUMP. Eric defended both coins, saying they were meant to be “fun,” and explained why people are buying in: “They want to bet on a coin, or they want to bet on a player. They want to bet on a celebrity, or they want to bet on a famous brand. Or they just love somebody to death, and they want to buy, you know, a kind of small piece of them, via digital currency.” And Eric doesn’t give Wall Street any credit. At all. He made it clear that everything they’ve built was done without the help of big-name banks. “It’s almost like the ultimate revenge against the big banks and modern finance,” he said. That jab came after the Trump Organization filed a lawsuit against Capital One, accusing the bank of closing their accounts in 2021 for political reasons — something the bank denies. But Eric wasn’t done. “You realise you just don’t need them. And frankly, you don’t miss them.” He added that he wasn’t just referring to Capital One, but “all” of Wall Street’s major lenders and their “top people.” Stablecoins, trillions, and the White House betting on crypto Stablecoins have traditional banks spooked. They think cash might flow out of the banking system if coins like Tether or Circle offer better returns. And that fear isn’t fake. It’s growing, especially after Congress passed the first major crypto law in July. Now the White House wants stablecoin issuers to buy up a fat slice of the Treasury’s debt. Why? Because these crypto firms make money on the interest from the bonds they hold. Last year, Eric co-founded World Liberty Financial Inc. (WLFI), a crypto company that runs a stablecoin called USD1, pegged to the U.S. dollar. That project has serious family backing. Donald held 15.75 billion WLFI tokens at the end of 2024, based on official filings. At Wednesday’s trading price, that holding was worth over $3 billion. When asked about the family’s financial gain from crypto, Eric downplayed it. “If my father cared about monetising his life, the last thing he would have done is run for president, where all we’ve done is un-monetise our life.” Your crypto news deserves attention - KEY Difference Wire puts you on 250+ top sites
Share
Coinstats2025/09/18 20:41