**$BTC: Korea’s Forbidden Financial Obsession**
Despite Seoul’s crypto crackdowns, Bitcoin remains South Korea’s worst-kept financial secret. The "Kimchi Premium" still emerges during bull runs (sometimes 5-10% above global prices), proving retail FOMO never dies.
**Korean BTC quirks:**
• **No futures/leverage** – Only spot trading permitted
• **After-hours dominance** – 35% of Upbit’s volume happens 10PM-4AM KST
• **"Hodler" culture** – 78% of investors hold long-term (vs global 58%)
**2024 shifts:**
• **Corporate BTC ETFs** coming via securities firms
• **Pension fund rumors** – $500B NPS eyeing indirect exposure
• **Offshore arbitrage** – Traders using SG/HK accounts to bypass restrictions
The irony? Korea’s strict rules created Asia’s most disciplined BTC investors. When the next bull run hits, watch Seoul’s underground trading cafes explode.
**Local tip:** "Haeundae Bitcoin Chatrooms" on KakaoTalk move markets.
