While cryptocurrency adoption is soaring in South Korea, the surge among young people appears driven less by belief in blockchain and more by deepening economic hardship. As of late March, more than 16 million South Koreans—over 30% of the population—are users on crypto exchanges, a figure boosted in part by market optimism following Donald Trump’s U.S. election win last November.

But according to Eli Ilha Yune, Chief Product Officer at quantum AI startup Anzaetek, this rise in adoption is not necessarily fueled by enthusiasm for Web3. Speaking during the “Asia Insights” panel at German Blockchain Week, Yune pointed out that many young Koreans turn to crypto out of necessity rather than passion. He said, “The motive comes not…