According to Odaily, the hype around artificial intelligence (AI) has permeated the cryptocurrency sector, with risk-loving South Korean traders increasingly participating in AI-related digital assets. Data from Kaiko indicates that the share of South Korean AI tokens in global weekly trading volume has risen from a low point of 0.6% in mid-2023 to 18.7% in May 2024. These tokens are typically issued by early projects seeking to deploy blockchain technology to AI services, although the practicality of this combination has yet to be proven.
Research suggests that many South Koreans are fascinated by both AI and cryptocurrency. Approximately 10% of the population has been exposed to tokens, with the main tokens traded locally being those with less volatility, rather than Bitcoin and Ethereum. Kaiko reports that since February, the weekly trading volume of South Korean AI tokens has averaged $8 billion, significantly higher than the historical low of $300 million in mid-2023.
Meanwhile, data from the South Korean Securities Depository shows that among the overseas stocks most popular with South Korean investors this year, Nvidia Corporation and Microsoft Corporation rank second and third respectively.