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South Korea’s cryptocurrency stagnation is “the calm before the storm,” according to Bitwise advisor Jeff Park. Park argues that a major rise in Bitcoin is likely once retail investors decide to exit profitable positions in South Korea’s stock market.
Park points to the large amount of capital currently parked in South Korea’s leading industrial and technology companies. He specifically cited SK Hynix, Samsung Electronics, and Hanmi Pharmaceutical as examples of “Blue Chip” stocks on the KOSPI.
Samsung and Hynix are described as global leaders in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and semiconductors. These stocks have been among the primary beneficiaries of the AI boom throughout 2025 and early 2026. Hanmi is referenced as representing the country’s domestic pharmaceutical and biotech sector.
Park’s view is that Korean retail capital is currently “trapped” in these stocks because they are performing well. He expects that if investors begin to perceive a peak in tech stocks, they will “rotate” by selling their shares and moving into Bitcoin at the same time.
Park links this behavior to the broader reputation of South Korean retail traders for high-risk, high-reward trading and their ability to influence markets through trading volume.
The article also notes South Korea’s historical “Kimchi Premium,” where Bitcoin has often traded at a 5% to 15% higher price than on global exchanges due to strong local demand.
Park’s prediction is presented alongside changes in the regulatory environment. The South Korean government is described as tightening oversight through 22% capital gains taxes and stricter reporting mandates.
The article adds that the industry is still struggling to recover from the Bithumb disaster, citing U.Today.
If Bitcoin starts to outperform KOSPI tech giants, Park argues that the equity-to-crypto “rotation” could trigger a liquidity event large enough to be felt across the global cryptocurrency market.
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