South Korea Nearly Doubles Japan in Crypto: Which Altcoins Are Investors Targeting?
South Korea ranked first in East Asia with $449.1 billion in crypto activity from July 2025–June 2026, while AI tokens were the thematic category that attracted the most interest from retail investors.
According to Chainalysis data reported by Wu Blockchain, the scale of crypto activity recorded in South Korea reached nearly twice Japan’s $228.3 billion, putting Japan in second place. Retail investor trading is driving growth in the region’s largest market.
South Korean investors show interest in AI tokens
The report identifies AI-related tokens as the most popular thematic category in South Korea. This finding shows not only the country’s regional leadership but also where investor interest is concentrated.
The rankings for countries and markets are as follows:
- South Korea: $449.1 billion
- Japan: $228.3 billion
- Hong Kong: $192.2 billion
- Mainland China: $176.3 billion
- Taiwan: $140.4 billion
A different investor profile stands out in Hong Kong
While retail trading supports growth in South Korea, institutional platforms stand out in Hong Kong. These platforms account for 16 percent of inflows into crypto services, a markedly higher share than in other markets in the region.
The data show that crypto activity in East Asia varies not only in scale but also in investor composition: retail investor interest stands out in South Korea, while institutional platforms have a greater presence in Hong Kong.