Retail traders in South Korea have shifted their focus toward AI-themed cryptocurrencies, making them the most popular investment category by June 2026. According to Chainalysis, the trading volume of these assets in Korean won significantly outperformed their share in yen, euro, pound, and real markets. This trend mirrors the performance of local chipmaker SK Hynix on the stock market.
Worldcoin (WLD) emerged as the leading asset in this sector, recording $7.41 billion in trading volume over the year. Other notable tokens included Sahara AI with $3.2 billion, Virtuals Protocol with $2.7 billion, Bio Protocol with $2 billion, and NEAR Protocol with $1.7 billion. The broader AI crypto sector is currently valued at approximately $15 billion by Grayscale.
The surge in retail interest contributed to a 12.3% growth in South Korea's crypto economy, reaching a total value of $449.1 billion. While institutional participation remains in pilot stages, market dynamics are shifting. Worldcoin recently reduced its daily token unlocks by 43% to 2.9 million units, though the asset still trades 95% below its March 2024 peak of $11.74.
Future market activity faces potential headwinds, including a planned 22% tax on crypto gains scheduled for January 2027. Additionally, historical data shows that Korean traders rotate between assets quickly, as seen when tokens like VIRTUAL and KAITO were replaced by newer projects. Analysts suggest that both the tax policy and rapid shifts in investor preference will influence the sector's trajectory.
