• South Korean retail crypto trading volume fell 28% year-on-year to US$69 billion in the first quarter of 2026.
• The country remained the world’s second-largest retail crypto market behind the United States.
• Analysts said investor funds shifted toward AI-related semiconductor stocks that delivered stronger returns.

South Korea’s retail cryptocurrency trading volume fell 28% year-on-year to US$69 billion in the first quarter of 2026, according to data from TRM Labs.

Despite the decline, South Korea ranked second globally for retail crypto trading activity, behind the United States with US$212 billion in volume.

“Analysts attribute the slowdown in crypto enthusiasm largely to the domestic stock market, where AI-driven semiconductor stocks have…