Average Daily Virtual Asset Trading Volume Hits Yearly Low of 2.7 Trillion Won at End of Last Year

Bank of Korea Releases "2025 Payment and Settlement Report"
Volatile Year: Average Daily Trading Volume Swings from 11.8 Trillion Won in January to 3.2 Trillion in June, Then 7.2 Trillion in July
Stablecoin Holdings Surge to 871.9 Billion Won by Year-End

At the end of last year, the average daily trading volume of virtual assets reached 2.7 trillion won, marking the lowest level of the year. Meanwhile, the amount held in stablecoins surged after October due to a preference for safe assets amid a decline in virtual asset prices, exceeding 870 billion won.

According to the "2025 Payment and Settlement Report" released by the Bank of Korea on April 13, the number of investors holding accounts at domestic virtual asset exchanges (five companies in total) stood at approximately 21.63 million at the end of last year. The Bank explained that the number of investors continues to grow, driven by increased public interest in virtual assets—including stablecoins—and heightened competition among exchanges to attract new customers. In 2025, the total value of virtual assets held at domestic exchanges (calculated at market value) and the average daily trading volume were reported at 81.7 trillion won and 2.7 trillion won, respectively.

Looking at trends in the value of virtual assets and trading volume, both indicators rose at the beginning of the year as investment sentiment improved following the inauguration of the Trump Administration. However, they subsequently declined due to heightened U.S.-China trade tensions and increased geopolitical risks in the Middle East. In July, the passage of the U.S. "Genius Act" led to another increase, but from October onward, large-scale liquidations of virtual asset derivatives and increased uncertainty regarding interest rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve fueled risk-averse sentiment, resulting in declines and significant volatility throughout the year.

The total value of virtual assets began the year at 121.8 trillion won but fell to 89.2 trillion won in June amid weakened investor sentiment following President Trump's tariff imposition. It then rebounded to 112.5 trillion won in July, as moves toward institutionalizing virtual assets—such as the passage of the Genius Act—helped restore confidence. However, as expectations of rate cuts by the Fed diminished, risk aversion grew and virtual asset prices fell again, pushing the total value down to 81.7 trillion won by year-end. The average daily trading volume showed a similar pattern: it started the year at 11.8 trillion won, dropped to 3.2 trillion won in June, then rose to 7.2 trillion won in July, before falling to a yearly low of 2.7 trillion won by year-end.

As of the end of last year, the total amount of Korean won deposits held by domestic investors at local exchanges stood at approximately 8.1 trillion won. This deposit amount, which represents funds waiting to be invested, fluctuated according to virtual asset prices and trading volumes. After starting the year at 10.7 trillion won, it declined to 6.2 trillion won in June, rose to 10.4 trillion won in August, and then decreased again to 8.1 trillion won in December.

Meanwhile, the amount held in stablecoins gradually increased from 278.1 billion won in January 2025, surging after October due to a preference for safe assets amid falling virtual asset prices, and reaching 871.9 billion won by year-end. The average daily trading volume of stablecoins followed a similar trend to other virtual assets, falling from 923.8 billion won in January to 238 billion won in June, climbing to 766.6 billion won in October, and then declining again to 326.6 billion won by the end of the year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.