PANews reported on June 17 that, according to the Korea Times, South Koreans' interest in cryptocurrency trading is cooling. Data from TRM Labs shows that South Korea's retail cryptocurrency transaction volume in the first quarter of this year was approximately $69 billion, ranking second globally, but down 28% year-on-year, the largest decline among major global markets, while the global average decline was 20% during the same period.

Analysts say the surge in AI-driven semiconductor stocks in the South Korean stock market has absorbed retail investor capital, diverting risk appetite. The South Korean KOSPI index has risen approximately 196% over the past year, with large-cap tech stocks outperforming major cryptocurrencies in a single day. South Korea's Virtual Asset User Protection Act has raised compliance requirements for exchanges, restricting local exchanges to spot trading while offshore platforms offer a wider range of products, including derivatives, leverage, and pre-market trading. Analysts point out that the continued recovery in Bitcoin and crypto prices is the most direct catalyst for renewed retail investor participation.