South Korea's Crypto Market Led by 10,000 High-Net-Worth Investors Holding Over $710,000

South Korea's cryptocurrency market continues to demonstrate remarkable maturity, with a growing number of high-net-worth investors reshaping the landscape. According to recent data from the country's top five exchanges—including Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit, and Gopax—over 10,000 investors hold more than KRW 1 billion ($710,000) in digital assets. The average holding for these large investors is KRW 2.23 billion ($1.59 million), a figure that is nearly 200 times the holdings of typical users [1].

The trend highlights a deepening integration of cryptocurrencies into Korean investors’ long-term financial strategies. While the majority of these high-net-worth individuals are in their 50s, it is investors in their 20s who lead in per-capita holdings, averaging KRW 2.7 billion ($1.92 million) each. This generational shift signals a growing willingness among young investors to treat digital assets not just as speculative tools, but as core components of their wealth management portfolios [1].

Upbit, South Korea’s largest exchange, dominates the space, with 76% of these high-net-worth investors holding their assets on its platform. This dominance is attributed to the exchange's strong security infrastructure, user-friendly design, and extensive token listings. The remaining 24% of large investors are spread across Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit, and Gopax, though no other platform comes close to Upbit’s market share [1].

The concentration of such large holdings in a relatively small group of investors has important implications for market stability and liquidity. With these investors actively shaping price dynamics, their responses to macroeconomic trends and regulatory developments can influence global crypto markets. This trend aligns with broader industry shifts toward institutional-grade investment strategies, where strategic asset allocation and risk management play a central role [1].

South Korea's crypto market is increasingly becoming one of the most influential in Asia. The combination of early adoption, technological affinity, and a mature investment mindset is creating a robust foundation for continued growth. As more data emerges, the behavior of these high-net-worth investors will serve as a key barometer for the sector’s future trajectory.

Source: [1] Research – Arkham Exchange (https://info.arkm.com/research)