South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb’s listing of Lista DAO (LISTA) and Merlin Chain (MERL) tokens has triggered substantial price rallies, with LISTA surging 33.97% to 354 KRW and MERL jumping 20.53% to 161 KRW at market open. The listings reflect heightened investor interest in altcoins amid booming trading activity across major domestic exchanges.
Market momentum coincides with South Korea’s rapidly expanding cryptocurrency adoption, where recent data shows 27% of individuals aged 20-50 hold digital assets. Leading exchanges collectively safeguard over 100 trillion Won (~$73 billion) in assets, highlighting the market’s deepening institutional footprint.
Trading volumes have surged dramatically industry-wide, with Bithumb experiencing a 256.2% monthly volume increase and rival platform Upbit seeing volumes climb 388.24%. This growth underscores intensified retail and institutional participation in the digital asset ecosystem.
Bithumb’s adherence to strict regulatory standards, including implementation of the Travel Rule for transaction monitoring, has strengthened market confidence. This compliance-first approach contributes significantly to sustainable market maturation amidst evolving regulatory frameworks.
The token listings exemplify Bithumb’s strategic initiatives to enhance altcoin liquidity and valuation potential, positioning the exchange as a catalyst for price discovery and market expansion in Asia-Pacific’s crypto landscape.