Latest Report on Cryptocurrency Owners in South Korea Released – Major Changes Are Underway, Here Are the Trends

The “2050 Generation Virtual Asset Investment Trends Report” published by Hana Financial Research Institute revealed that virtual asset investment in South Korea has become a serious financial asset rather than a speculative tool.

According to the report, 27% of individuals between the ages of 20 and 50 invest in cryptocurrencies, and these investments constitute an average of 14% of their total financial assets.

The research is based on survey results conducted with 1,000 people. The crypto ownership rate is at its highest level, with 31% among individuals in their 40s. 70% of investors state that they plan to increase their crypto investments in the future.

Another noteworthy piece of data from the report is that more than half of investors in their 50s are holding crypto for retirement preparation. 78% of this age group stated that they invested in virtual assets for the purpose of creating large savings, and 53% directly for old age preparation.

While 79% of investors use crypto to “grow money,” only 24% say they invest for “fashion and entertainment,” and 22% say they invest for “daily living expenses.” This suggests that crypto is now being viewed as a serious portfolio asset.

Behaviors towards crypto investments are also maturing. The proportion of regular investors increased from 10% to 34%, while the proportion of medium-term investors increased from 26% to 47%. The proportion of short-term investors decreased from 48% to 45%.

While 90% of investors stated that they only hold coins, interest in new generation digital assets such as NFTs and security tokens remained low. 60% of investors who hold an average of two different coins include Bitcoin in their portfolios. Initially focused on Bitcoin, investment strategies have expanded over time with altcoin and stablecoin diversity.

The biggest complaint from investors was the inability to establish a connection between exchanges and existing bank accounts. Under the current system, exchanges can only be assigned a single bank account. 70% of participants said they would prefer their main bank if this restriction was lifted.

Market volatility (56%), stock market risk (61%) and fraud concerns (61%) still significantly influence investment decisions. However, investors see the more active role of traditional financial institutions (42%) and increased regulation (35%) as positive steps.

*This is not investment advice.