Roughly one in four South Koreans aged 20 to 50 currently owns virtual assets, with male white-collar workers in their 30s and 40s dominating the investor base, according to a new report released Sunday by the Hana Institute of Finance.
The study, titled 2050 Generation’s Virtual Asset Investment Trends, highlights a growing shift in investment behavior from short-term speculation to more structured, long-term strategies.
Among the 1,000 respondents surveyed, 27% reported holding virtual assets, which now account for 14% of their total financial portfolios.
While early adoption was largely driven by fear of missing out (FOMO), motivations have evolved.
Today, investors cite asset growth, portfolio diversification, and savings discipline as primary reasons for crypto investments.
The use of official trading platforms and analytical tools has increased, while dependence on peer influence for investment decisions has declined.
The report found that 70% of virtual asset investors use Upbit, South Korea’s largest exchange, linked to K Bank.
However, 76% of respondents expressed frustration over limitations in linking existing bank accounts to exchanges due to the country’s one-exchange-one-bank rule.
Many now select trading platforms based on associated banks rather than trading features or user experience.
Bitcoin remains the most popular asset, with investors typically holding two types of coins.
While Bitcoin dominates initial holdings, investors with more experience tend to diversify into altcoins and stablecoins. Interest in non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and tokenized securities (STOs) remains limited.
Investment methods are also changing. Regular investment increased from 10% to 34%, and mid-term trading rose to 47%. Short-term trading declined slightly from 48% to 45%, indicating a maturing investor approach.
Among investors in their 50s, 53% cited retirement planning as their main reason for holding crypto.
While 70% of respondents expressed willingness to invest more in virtual assets, concerns about market volatility, fraud, and exchange risk remain high.
However, respondents said they would invest more if legal frameworks are strengthened or if traditional financial institutions expand their crypto-related services—especially if paired with incentives such as promotions or fee discounts.