South Korean crypto exchanges saw roughly $60 billion in cryptocurrency outflow to overseas platforms and private wallets in the second half of 2025, according to the latest findings from the country’s top financial regulator.
In a report released Wednesday, the Financial Services Commission said total outflows reached 90 trillion won ($60 billion) during the period, up 14% from 78.9 trillion won ($52.5 billion) in the first half of the year.
“It is presumed that virtual assets are being transferred abroad for arbitrage and other similar activities,” the report said.
The report also showed that while user numbers and deposits on local exchanges increased during the period, overall profitability declined.
As of the end of last year, the number of crypto exchange accounts reached 11.1 million, up 3% from June 2025. Deposits rose more sharply, climbing 31% to 8.1 trillion won ($5.4 billion).
This growth did not translate into higher profits. The country’s 18 operating exchanges reported 380.7 billion won ($253.4 million) in operating profit in the second half, down 38% from 617.8 billion won ($411.2 million) in the first half.
The FSC estimated South Korea’s total crypto market capitalization at 87.2 trillion won (about $58 billion) at the end of 2025, down 8% from the first half of the year. Average daily transaction volume during the period was 5.4 trillion won ($3.6 billion), a 15% decline from the first half.
The regulator noted that declines in major crypto prices toward the end of last year likely contributed to the drop in volumes and exchange profitability.
The broader crypto market remains well below its October 2025 peak, when bitcoin hit an all-time high of around $126,080. Amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a hawkish U.S. Federal Reserve outlook, bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies have stayed relatively stable in recent days.
© 2026 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
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