Outflow of Stablecoins from South Korea Continues for 18 Consecutive Months, Exceeding $360 Million in June
In June 2026, South Korea experienced a net outflow of stablecoins to overseas crypto exchanges, amounting to 560.3 billion won ($367 million). This represents approximately 78% of the net value of foreign stocks purchased by Korean investors in the same period. According to the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), this marks the 18th consecutive month of net outflows, a trend ongoing since January 2025.
The FSS reported that 2.76 trillion won ($1.8+ billion) in stablecoins were withdrawn from the country's five major exchanges to foreign platforms in June, while 2.2 trillion won ($1.4 billion) flowed back in. The second quarter of 2026 saw a significant net outflow of 1.69 trillion won (~$1.1 billion), surpassing net sales of foreign stocks in the same period.
Analysts cite access to unavailable domestic financial instruments as a primary driver. Foreign platforms offer crypto derivatives, spot and futures products tied to major Korean stocks like Samsung and Hyundai, along with RWA tokenization, DeFi, staking, and leveraged products.
Lawmaker Lee Jong-wook warned that the stablecoin outflows constitute capital flight, exposing investors to risks on unregulated foreign platforms. He called for accelerated regulatory reform and enhanced investor protection measures. The government is reportedly working on a digital assets law to foster the blockchain sector.
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