Brief
South Korean crypto exchanges see profits plunge 78% in H1 2026
Operating profits fell as daily trading volume dropped 44% and deposits fell 35%, according to the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit.
By Felo News Desk · Published
South Korean crypto exchanges reported a 78% decline in operating profits for the first half of 2026, based on data released by the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit (KoFIU). The agency said average daily trading volume at domestic virtual‑asset exchanges fell 44% compared with the previous six months, while market capitalisation dropped 33% and won‑denominated deposits slipped 35%.
Sales at the exchanges declined 41% over the same period, even though the number of accounts eligible to trade rose marginally by 0.4%. KoFIU’s survey covered 26 registered virtual‑asset service providers, including 17 exchange operators and nine custody and wallet providers, for the period from 1 January to 30 June.
The downturn coincides with a shift among South Korean retail investors toward the stock market; ChosunBiz linked the decline to capital moving into equities, and Cointelegraph’s July analysis noted an 89% year‑over‑year drop in average daily volume across major exchanges such as Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit and Gopax, while the KOSPI more than doubled over the same twelve months.
Key facts
- Operating profits of South Korean crypto exchanges fell 78% in H1 2026. (cointelegraph.com)
- Average daily trading volume dropped 44% over the same period. (cointelegraph.com)
- Customer deposits in won fell 35% and exchange sales fell 41%. (cointelegraph.com)
Sources
- [1] cointelegraph.com — originally reported as “South Korea Crypto Trading Slumps as Exchange Profits Fall 78%”
