Six out of ten South Koreans choose Bitcoin

According to a study by the Hana Financial Institute published on June 29, 2025, over 25% of South Korean residents aged 20 to 50 have already purchased digital assets and, on average, allocate 14% of their investment portfolio to their acquisition.

The highest share of cryptocurrency owners was found among people around 40 years old – 31% of respondents in this group own digital coins. They are followed by investors aged 30–39 with a rate of 28%, while among those over 50 the share of owners is 25%.

78% of investors in the older age category use cryptocurrency for savings, and 53% believe it will help ensure a carefree retirement.

70% of respondents intend to expand their investments in digital assets; 42% are willing to increase their investment volume if traditional financial companies enter the market, and 35% are waiting for clear regulations and reliable legal protection from the authorities.

Bitcoin remains the most in-demand asset – it is purchased by 60% of survey participants. As experience accumulates, many begin to diversify their portfolios by including altcoins and stablecoins, while tokenized stocks and non-fungible tokens remain niche products for now.

Despite growing interest, 56% of investors are concerned about high volatility, and they cite the current rules allowing only one bank account to be linked to an exchange as the main limitation.

A high level of youth unemployment also pushes many to seek alternative income sources and see cryptocurrencies as a chance to offset labor market difficulties.

At the end of May this year, the Financial Services Commission lifted the ban introduced in December 2017 and permitted companies to sell digital assets, marking an important step in integrating cryptocurrencies into the national financial system.

In parallel, the authorities are preparing new rules for cross-border digital asset operations, which are expected to come into force in the second half of next year, according to the regulator’s plans, requiring mandatory registration and regular reporting from market participants located outside the country.