South Korean Crypto Exchanges See Revenue Drop by Half

Leading South Korean crypto exchanges Upbit and Bithumb reported a 50 percent decline in revenue for the first half of 2026. This sharp drop highlights a cooling period for the local digital asset sector after a previous surge in trading volume.

The downturn stems from a shift in investor interest. Data shows that capital previously directed toward crypto markets flowed into domestic equities instead. The KOSPI benchmark index performed well, more than doubling during the same six month period.

This trend suggests that market participants are currently favoring traditional stocks over volatile crypto assets. Traders should keep an eye on whether this shift persists or if liquidity will return to crypto exchanges as stock market momentum stabilizes.