Trading activity on South Korea’s biggest cryptocurrency exchanges has surged as Bitcoin’s latest rally brings investors back into the digital asset market.
Upbit, the country’s largest crypto exchange, saw its daily trading volume jump 273% to around $1.84 billion, marking its highest level since mid-March. At the same time, Bithumb recorded a 132.9% increase in trading activity, with daily volume reaching approximately $935 million.
One of the biggest surprises was XRP, which became the most-traded cryptocurrency on both exchanges. On Upbit alone, XRP generated nearly $419 million in trading volume, outperforming Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT.
The sharp increase comes after months of weaker activity in South Korea’s crypto market. Earlier this year, many investors shifted their attention to the stock market, where the KOSPI index reached record highs thanks to strong performance from technology and semiconductor companies.
As a result, cryptocurrency trading volumes fell significantly, and major exchanges such as Upbit and Bithumb reported lower revenues and profits during the first half of 2026.
However, Bitcoin’s recent recovery has started to change sentiment. As prices climbed sharply over the past few days, many traders returned to the crypto market looking for new opportunities.
XRP has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of this renewed interest. The token has repeatedly ranked among the most actively traded assets in South Korea this year, often outperforming larger cryptocurrencies in local trading volume.
Analysts say it is still too early to know whether this marks a long-term shift from stocks back into crypto. However, if Bitcoin and the broader market continue moving higher, more South Korean investors could return to digital assets.
Market researchers note that South Korean retail investors often follow strong-performing sectors rather than remain loyal to a single asset class. Because of this, continued gains in cryptocurrencies could attract even larger amounts of capital into the market.
For now, the combination of Bitcoin’s rally and rising investor optimism has sparked a strong rebound in trading activity across South Korea’s leading crypto exchanges, signaling renewed interest in digital assets after months of slower market conditions.
