"In 2025, Cryptoquant's Korea Premium Index (KPI) shows bitcoin traded at a premium for most of the year, aside from a handful of brief exceptions. The premium climbed as high as 8.27% in October, shortly after BTC pushed beyond its $126,000+ all-time high. 2026 has told a different story, particularly since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict."
Bitcoin is trading above $80,000 on South Korean exchanges with premiums approaching 2%, the highest level since late February. The Cryptoquant Korea Premium Index (KPI) reached 1.98% on May 7 as BTC topped $80K. Upbit and Bithumb showed swings from discounts around -2.27% to premiums during war-related volatility in 2026. KPI movements have tracked periods when bitcoin traded below and above the global volume-weighted average price (VWAP) since the U.S.-Iran conflict. The Kimchi Premium reflects local demand, while South Korea’s market segmentation is shaped by strict capital controls and residency-based KYC requirements. In 2025, bitcoin traded at a premium for most of the year, peaking near 8.27% in October, while 2026 has been more uneven since Middle East conflict began.
Read at news.bitcoin.com
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