South Korea’s Bitcoin Price Premium Returns as Crypto Market Climbs to $385 Billion

South Korea Premium is Back
Up until last week, the price of cryptocurrencies including bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple were cheaper in South Korea in comparison to other markets such as the US, Japan, and Hong Kong. The lower rates of cryptocurrency in the local South Korean market and on cryptocurrency exchanges like Bithumb and Korbit were considered odd, given that the value of cryptocurrency has been generally higher in South Korea in the 5 to 30 percent range.

In South Korea, cryptocurrencies tend to be more expensive than other regions due to its low supply. The country has relied on miners in China and Japan to bring in cryptocurrencies but its ban on foreign cryptocurrency traders led the already small supply of bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies to fall even further. Consequently, premiums on cryptocurrencies intensified throughout 2017 and 2018.

In consideration of these events and factors, analysts found the lower cryptocurrency rates in South Korea abnormal and a strong indicator of a bear market. Investors were no longer interested in investing in the cryptocurrency market even with a lower rate. In December 2017, when FOMO or fear of missing out struck South Korea, investors were willing to invest in the market with 30 to 40 percent premiums. As a result, when the bitcoin price hit $20,000 globally, in South Korea, bitcoin was worth $25,000