Over 25% of South Koreans in their 20s to 50s now hold digital assets, with crypto making up 14% of their total financial portfolios, according to a new report from the Hana Institute of Finance.
The study reveals that participation spans across age groups, with those in their 40s leading the trend.
The report highlights growing maturity in investment behavior. More investors are adopting regular buying patterns, moving away from short-term speculation. Meanwhile, demand for institutional involvement and regulatory safeguards is rising, with many saying they would invest more if protections improved.
Bitcoin remains the most held asset, but experience often leads to diversification into altcoins. Despite this, most investors avoid NFTs and STOs. Investors now rely less on word-of-mouth, turning instead to official platforms and analytics tools.
Economic pressure also plays a major role. High youth unemployment and stagnant wage growth are pushing younger Koreans toward crypto as a last resort. Anzaetek’s Eli Ilha Yune argued that the country’s crypto boom is fueled more by financial anxiety than belief in blockchain ideals.
Many are using crypto to build savings or prepare for retirement, but volatility and trust in exchanges remain key concerns. Still, the interest is clear: 70% of respondents said they’re likely to increase their crypto exposure in the future.
Alexander Zdravkov
Reporter at Coindoo
Alexander Zdravkov is passionate about questions of meaning. He is a fluent German speaker as well as He has been in the crypto space for more than three years and has an eye for spotting emerging trends in the world of digital currencies. Whether providing in-depth analysis or reporting on all topics on a daily basis, his deep understanding and enthusiasm for what he does makes him a valuable addition to the team.
Source: https://coindoo.com/crypto-becomes-core-investment-strategy-for-millions-in-south-korea/