South Korean Exchanges Upbit And Bithumb See Revenue Drop

Two of South Korea's biggest crypto exchanges, Upbit and Bithumb, took a heavy hit in the first half of 2026. Both platforms saw their revenues cut in half compared to previous periods. The sharp decline highlights a major shift in investor focus across the country.

Market data shows that local capital moved away from digital assets and poured into domestic equities instead. The benchmark KOSPI stock index more than doubled during the same six month window, drawing traders away from crypto screens and toward traditional stock markets.

This trend serves as a reminder of how quickly local liquidity can dry up for digital assets when traditional markets heat up. Traders should keep an eye on South Korean equity performance and exchange volume data to see if crypto trading interest returns in the upcoming months.