XRP Dominates South Korea’s Retail Market
XRP has become the standard trading chip in South Korea, surpassing Bitcoin and Ethereum in the country’s high-speed retail market. This phenomenon is attributed to the asset’s liquidity and speed, making it the preferred choice for domestic traders. According to data from the country’s largest exchanges, XRP is consistently prioritized as the market heats up, with Dunamu, the operator of the dominant Upbit exchange, listing XRP as the platform’s most traded asset this year.
Why South Koreans Prefer XRP
The preference for XRP in South Korea lies in the difference between belief and benefit. The country’s market is optimized for short-term decisions rather than buy-and-hold strategies, making XRP the best asset for speculative trading due to its extensive order books, tight spreads, and low execution friction. This utility is crucial during peak trading hours, with XRP serving as a default vehicle for liquidity, functioning more like a high-speed train for capital than an investment.
Volatility Replaces Leverage
Structural constraints in the country have driven speculative energy into XRP, with significantly more capital flowing into foreign exchanges than remaining in domestic markets. This creates a divided market, with traders seeking leverage heading offshore, while those who remain on domestic platforms build their own leverage by trading high-volatility assets like XRP. The asset occupies a “sweet spot” for this demographic, offering enough volatility to generate significant short-term returns while having enough liquidity to allow traders to quickly exit positions.
The “XRP Army” Community
Beyond market mechanisms, the preference for XRP is supported by a uniquely intense community culture. The South Korean XRP community is described as “next level,” with engagement intensity exceeding that of other major regions. This fervor is a natural result of the country’s high penetration rate, with over 7 million South Koreans registered on local exchanges, creating a clear social dynamic that has continually boosted XRP’s price performance.
Institutional Bridge
This intense retail engagement is now beginning to captivate the institutional infrastructure, with shifting global narratives and local developments making XRP a structural feature. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dropped its lawsuit against Ripple in August 2025, and major financial firms like Franklin Templeton have announced XRP-focused ETFs. This global shift in legitimacy is reflected in domestic infrastructure improvements tailored to Korea’s unique market composition, with regulated companies recognizing the depth of the local XRP market and trying to support it.
For more information, visit https://cryptoslate.com/xrp-volume-is-exploding-in-korea-because-it-exploits-a-specific-gap-in-the-countrys-spot-only-exchange-laws/
