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

South Korean crypto exchange operating profits fell 78% in the first half of 2026, according to government data. The Korea Financial Intelligence Unit said average daily trading volume at domestic virtual asset exchanges fell 44% from the previous six months. Market capitalization fell 33% over the same period. Won-denominated deposits fell 35% over the same period. Exchange sales fell 41% over the same period. The number of accounts eligible to trade rose 0.4%. The agency surveyed 26 registered virtual asset service providers, including 17 exchange operators and nine custody and wallet providers, covering January 1 through June 30. In May, the value of crypto held by South Korean investors had fallen 50.2% to 60.6 trillion won ($41.4 billion) over roughly a year. ChosunBiz linked that decline to capital moving toward stocks. An analysis in July found that combined average daily volume across Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit and Gopax had fallen about 89% year over year during comparable seven-day periods. South Korea's benchmark stock index, the KOSPI, had more than doubled over the 12 months to July 22. Bithumb and Upbit operator Dunamu were contacted for comment.