South Korea crypto exchange profits fall 78% in first half of 2026

South Korean crypto exchanges reported a sharp decline in operating profit in the first half of 2026, according to government data released by the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit. The survey covered 26 registered virtual asset service providers, including exchange operators and custody and wallet firms. It found that average daily trading volume fell 44% from the previous six months, market capitalization dropped 33%, and wondenominated deposits declined 35%. Exchange sales also fell 41%, even as the number of eligible trading accounts rose slightly. The data suggest that some retail investors in South Korea have been shifting attention away from crypto and toward the local stock market. Earlier reports also pointed to a steep drop in the value of crypto holdings among South Korean investors over the past year.