Operating profits at South Korean cryptocurrency exchanges fell 78% in the first half of 2026 compared to the previous six-month period, while sales declined 41%, according to data from the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit (KoFIU). Average daily trading volume dropped 44% over the same timeframe, signaling a significant cooling in market activity across the region. Total crypto asset market capitalization decreased 33% and KRW-denominated customer deposits fell 35% during the period. Despite the sharp downturn in financial metrics and trading activity, the number of accounts eligible for trading edged up 0.4%. The KoFIU survey covered 26 registered virtual asset service providers, including 17 exchange operators and nine custody and wallet service providers, from January 1 to June 30, 2026.