South Korea’s AI Mania Spills Into Crypto, With Worldcoin as Top Pick
South Korean retail merchants have carried their AI commerce into crypto, Chainalysis information present. AI tokens grew to become the highest theme in gained buying and selling by June, with Worldcoin (WLD) drawing $7.41 billion in buying and selling quantity over the 12 months.
The demand has helped South Korea’s crypto economic system develop 12.3% to $449.1 billion, even as East Asia’s contracted modestly. Retail merchants drove practically all of that development, whereas Korean banks and establishments stay largely in pilot mode.
AI Crypto Assets Take a 19.5 Times Bigger Share of Won Trading Than Yen
According to the report, AI tokens’ share of gained buying and selling was 19.5 occasions their share of yen buying and selling. That share additionally dwarfed AI tokens’ slice of euro, British pound, and Brazilian actual buying and selling.
Chainalysis tied the AI commerce to Korean retail merchants’ style for high-risk, high-reward bets. On the inventory market, that commerce has been led by SK Hynix.
Korean AI token volumes climbed alongside the chipmaker’s shares over the identical stretch, the report famous.
“By June of 2026, AI cryptocurrencies (digital property of AI-focused initiatives or related to AI infrastructure) had been the only hottest thematically-defined funding class as measured by a share of won-denominated buying and selling quantity, beating out cost tokens like XRP,” the report learn.
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Worldcoin Leads a Crowded Field of South Korea’s AI Bets
The report names a number of AI tokens that drew heavy Korean trading volume over the year to June. Newcomer Sahara AI (SAHARA) contributed $3.2 billion, and Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) added $2.7 billion.
Bio Protocol (BIO) accounted for $2 billion, whereas NEAR Protocol (NEAR) drew $1.7 billion. Worldcoin topped the listing with $7.41 billion, greater than double SAHARA’s whole.
The sector additionally outran the broader market in September. Grayscale says AI crypto property rose 54% that month, in opposition to 24% for the broader market. WLD remained among the many sector’s leaders, Grayscale added.
Over the previous month, WLD has climbed 44.28% to $0.57155, BeInCrypto Markets information present. It slipped 1.74% up to now day.
Last week, WLD added 15% whereas most crypto property slipped, BeInCrypto reported. Santiment didn’t tie that transfer to a selected catalyst. Even after the run, WLD trades about 95% under its $11.74 report from March 2024.
Slower Unlocks Meet Korea’s 2027 Crypto Tax
Grayscale values the AI crypto sector at about $15 billion, the smallest of its six crypto sectors. From that small base, head of analysis Zach Pandl sees room for main winners inside 5 years.
That outlook, mixed with continued Korean demand, may act as a tailwind for WLD. The provide aspect has additionally eased. World mentioned in April that each day WLD unlocks would fall 43% from July 24 to about 2.9 million tokens.
However, a brand new tax may take a look at the demand aspect. South Korea plans a 22% tax on crypto beneficial properties from January 2027, although lawmakers have delayed it earlier than.
Korean merchants additionally rotate rapidly. Chainalysis discovered that 2025’s main AI tokens, together with VIRTUAL and KAITO, have already given method to WLD and SAHARA.
Both the tax resolution and that rotation may form whether or not Korean merchants preserve WLD on the high of their AI token listing.
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