South Korean cryptocurrency exchanges have reported a dramatic 264% surge in daily trading volumes, exceeding $8 billion. This growth coincides with Bitcoin surpassing the $120,000 price level, though the historical ‘Kimchi Premium’ price gap has now disappeared, indicating improved market efficiency.
Institutional infrastructure development advanced significantly as trading technology provider Talos acquired blockchain analytics firm Coin Metrics for over $100 million. The acquisition aims to enhance institutional trading tools and data services, strengthening crypto market infrastructure.
Separately, WLFI tokens backed by former U.S. President Donald Trump transitioned to public trading, democratizing access to its Ethereum-based DeFi platform. This follows a $100 million strategic investment from UAE-based Aqua 1 Foundation, marking a major expansion for the project.
Broader financial momentum is reflected in South Korea’s KOSPI index, which has risen 15% since June amid pro-market reforms by President Lee Jae-Myung. These developments collectively highlight accelerating institutional engagement and infrastructure maturation across digital asset markets.