• South Korea altcoin trading volume surged across Upbit and Bithumb.
• XRP recorded the highest combined 24-hour volume at $1.20 billion.
• Mid-cap and speculative tokens also posted sharp activity increases.
South Korea altcoin trading volume rose sharply over the past 24 hours, with XRP leading activity across the country’s two largest exchanges.
Data from Upbit and Bithumb show concentrated flows into major tokens, while several mid-cap assets also recorded notable spikes.
The shift highlights renewed retail participation in one of crypto’s most active regional markets.
South Korea Altcoin Trading Volume Shows XRP Dominance
Combined spot data from Upbit and Bithumb indicate that XRP reached approximately $1.20 billion in total trading volume over 24 hours.
That figure placed XRP well ahead of other digital assets on Korean exchanges.
Among majors, Ethereum posted roughly $304.41 million in combined volume, while Bitcoin recorded about $284.97 million. Tether (USDT) followed with $254.35 million.
Meanwhile, Dogecoin registered $122.38 million and Solana reached $106.11 million. Pepe generated $50.86 million in activity.
On Upbit alone, XRP accounted for around 33% of total exchange volume, equivalent to $741.6 million. Ethereum recorded $179.7 million, while Bitcoin reached $152.5 million.
Dogecoin and Solana also remained active on Upbit, with $89.8 million and $64.2 million respectively.
Bithumb Activity Confirms Broader Retail Momentum
On Bithumb, XRP again led with approximately $461.2 million in volume.
USDT ranked second at $209.9 million. Bitcoin followed with $132.4 million, while Ethereum recorded $124.6 million.
Beyond large-cap assets, smaller projects showed strong inflows.
On Upbit, Kite reached $61.2 million in trading volume. Story recorded $44 million, QuarkChain $36.6 million, and zkPass $32.3 million.
Similarly, Bithumb saw activity in Humanity at $20.8 million, Bitlayer at $20.7 million, and Worldcoin at $19.1 million.
The distribution suggests both speculative and established tokens participated in the surge.
Why South Korea’s Market Matters
South Korea has historically played an outsized role in altcoin cycles.
During previous bull phases, Korean exchanges often reported concentrated flows into XRP, Dogecoin, and other retail-driven assets.
Traders frequently monitor “Kimchi premium” conditions, where local prices diverge from global averages due to demand imbalances.
Therefore, spikes in South Korea altcoin trading volume can signal rising retail engagement or short-term momentum rotations.
However, elevated turnover does not necessarily indicate sustained trend reversals.
Volume Without Immediate Breakout
While trading activity increased, price reactions varied across tokens.
High volume can signal accumulation, distribution, or short-term speculation.
In XRP’s case, concentrated turnover may reflect positioning ahead of broader market developments. Still, sustained price continuation would require follow-through in global markets beyond Korean exchanges.
Moreover, sharp volume spikes sometimes precede volatility rather than directional clarity.
The latest surge in South Korea altcoin trading volume places XRP at the center of renewed market activity across Upbit and Bithumb. Although major tokens such as Bitcoin and Ethereum maintained solid turnover, the dominance of XRP and participation from mid-cap projects point to active retail flows. Whether this volume translates into sustained price momentum will depend on broader market conditions and continued participation beyond regional exchanges.
