Two-Thirds of Koreans to Expand Crypto Portfolios as Stablecoin Interest Soars

- Two-thirds of South Koreans to increase crypto investments. - New administration's policies boost interest in won-based stablecoins. A recent survey from the Hana Financial Research Institute shows a substantial increase in cryptocurrency interest among South Korean investors, a trend driven by the new president's supportive stance on won-based stablecoins and digital assets. The institute surveyed 1,000 South Koreans aged 20 to 59, finding that 70% of respondents plan to increase their cryptocurrency holdings within the next year. This figure includes 86% of those who currently own digital assets. On June 29, 2025, The Block reported on the study, highlighting evolving cryptocurrency adoption trends. According to the report, 27% of respondents currently own digital assets. Demographic insights further reveal that investors in their 40s are the largest group of holders at 31%, and men are twice as likely as women to invest in cryptocurrencies. Motivations also diverge between age groups; for instance, younger participants emphasize high-risk, high-reward trading, while over half of respondents in their 50s invest with retirement in mind. Despite this growing interest, two-thirds of participants expressed concern over market volatility. This increase in cryptocurrency investment activity aligns with broader market dynamics in South Korea, where the KOSPI Composite index has surged, nearing a four-year high to become the best-performing stock market in Asia for 2025. The new administration's pledge to legalize won-based stablecoins has sparked this rally, fueling interest in companies involved in the Bank of Korea's digital asset initiatives. As a result, the proposed regulatory framework would allow firms with at least 500 million KRW (approximately $367,000) in equity capital to issue stablecoins. This development has further piqued retail interest in related stocks; for example, KakaoPay Corp's stock value climbed 134% over the past month. In addition, South Korean investors have demonstrated strong interest in international crypto-related businesses. For instance, they have invested $443 million in Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, following its IPO. The administration's pro-crypto initiatives have therefore amplified optimism across both the domestic and global cryptocurrency landscape. According to the latest market data from June 29 at 21:08 UTC, USDC (USDC) was trading at $1, with its 24-hour trading volume changing by 0.005%, while PayPal USD (PYUSD) was trading at $0.999, showing a 0.027% decrease in its 24-hour trading volume.