Bank of Korea report shows declining crypto trading enthusiasm, investors focus on taking profits

The Bank of Korea (BOK) pointed out in its latest "Financial Stability Report" that although the activity level of the Korean crypto market remains higher than the global average (157% compared to 112%), investor behavior has shifted from aggressive accumulation to concentrated profit-taking. When the price of bitcoin surpasses $100,000 in 2025, Korean retail investors will cash out significantly, with 91.2% of trading volume contributed by the top 10% of accounts, increasing the risk of market manipulation. The BOK warns that if institutional and ETF access is relaxed, the vulnerability of the Korean market to global volatility may intensify. Currently, hot money has shifted to the local stock market and leveraged ETFs in the US stock market.