Korea switches 6 times a year: The reason the altcoin KRW market can't truly rise without institutions | Seo Dong-ju, Kim Dong-hwan, Kim Jun-woo Xangle CEO [Crypto PLUS]

Summary

Xangle CEO Kim Jun-woo analyzes the unique Korean crypto market structure where retail investors dominate without institutional participation, driving high turnover and altcoin preference. He discusses how Korea serves as an early adopter and leading indicator for global crypto and tokenized real-world assets, while noting current market cooling and future RWA opportunities.

• Korea has ~10 million crypto investors but zero institutional participation, creating a retail-only market.
• High turnover (avg. 6 portfolio changes per year) and altcoin preference define Korean trading behavior.
• Elderly participation is rising while younger investors are leaving, partly due to liquidity needs.
• Korean stock trading of Samsung and SK hynix acts as a leading signal for global tech markets.
• RWA tokenization is expected to emerge overseas first, with early adopters profiting via DeFi before mass adoption.
• Current on-chain metrics show deposit volumes halved and ongoing account closures, signaling a cold market.
• Korea's regulatory lag makes it unlikely to lead RWA domestically, but niche Korean firms may excel abroad.