Disclaimer: This article is based on research from publicly available market channels and information. IOSG does not endorse any third-party service providers, individuals, or media mentioned in this article. This article is for readers' reference only and does not constitute investment advice. Thanks to Yuanjie (@forgivenever) and Jocy (@jocyiosg) for their structural suggestions. Thanks to Heechang (@xparadigms) , Jeff Kim (@jeefeekim) , Bingo (@ Bingo_z9 ), Tae Hee (@taeheecrypto) , 0xDaniel (@0xDaniel_kr ), Uno (@chillguyuno) , and Harry (@harrychjin) for their modification suggestions.
Author | Shirley (@0x_Shirleyyy)
Recently, a16z crypto opened an office in Seoul to provide go-to-market assistance to its portfolio companies, covering the entire Asia-Pacific region, and recruited regional managers to provide comprehensive support to projects.
Following our previous research on " Focusing on the Chinese Crypto Market: A Quick Look at the Web3 KOL and Agency Marketing Ecosystem, " this article will focus on the South Korean market. Given South Korea's unique economic environment, rapid adoption of digital assets, and emerging regulatory framework, this report on local exchanges, media, institutions, research firms, and blockchain activities aims to provide valuable reference resources for investors, startups, community builders, and stakeholders.
Why is the South Korean market becoming increasingly important in the crypto space?
South Korea is widely considered a global cryptocurrency hotspot, with crypto trading deeply ingrained in its financial culture. It has become one of the most dynamic cryptocurrency markets in the world. 2025 is poised to be a defining year for the industry. With over 16 million crypto users, strong mobile adoption, and a tech-savvy population, South Korea's crypto landscape is booming at an unprecedented pace.
Adoption Side Analysis:
South Korean Stock and Cryptocurrency Trader Analysis (2018-2025)
From 2018 to 2025, South Korea experienced a significant shift in investment patterns. The number of stock traders increased from 5.6 million (10.8% of the population) to 14.1 million (27.3%), a growth of 152%. More notably, the number of cryptocurrency traders surged from 2 million (3.9%) to 16.3 million (31.6%), marking a 715% increase. By 2025, cryptocurrency traders will surpass stock traders for the first time, reflecting a significant shift in retail investor preferences.
▲ Trader Growth Trends (Millions)
▲ Population Penetration (%)
Key Findings:
Stock traders
grew from 5.6 million (10.8% of the population) in 2018 to 14.1 million (27.3%)
in 2025, experiencing explosive growth (136.7%) during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Since 2021, they have remained relatively stable at around 14.2 million.
Cryptocurrency traders
surged from 2 million (3.9% of the population) in 2018 to 16.3 million (31.6%) in 2025,
growing by a staggering 715% over the period
.A significant acceleration occurred in 2024-2025, with nearly 7 million new traders added.
In 2025, they surpassed stock traders for the first time.
From 2024 to 2025, the strong performance of Bitcoin, the approval of US ETFs, and Trump's pro-cryptocurrency stance fueled the explosive growth. Cryptocurrency traders surged from 9.7 million to 16.3 million, surpassing stock traders for the first time in South Korean history, reflecting a fundamental shift in retail investor preferences.
Data sources include: Korea Financial Investment Association (KFIA), Korea Securities Depository, Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Bank of Korea, Thornburg Investment Management, major cryptocurrency exchanges (Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit, Gopax), and official government statistics. Stock trader figures represent unique individual investors with active accounts. Crypto trader figures represent verified users registered on exchanges. Population data is from the UN's 2024 World Population Prospects (Revised) and Statistics Korea.
Surpassing Stocks: Surge in Cryptocurrency Adoption and Market Impact in South Korea.
According to FinTech Weekly, by March 2025, South Korea will have over 16 million people holding cryptocurrency accounts, exceeding stock investors, with digital asset adoption reaching a new high following the election. This represents over 30% of the population. Among them, Upbit has approximately 5.4 million users (53% of the domestic market), Bithumb has approximately 3.8 million users (37% of the domestic market), Coinone has approximately 300,000 to 500,000 users (<5%), and Korbit has approximately 100,000 to 200,000 users (<2%). In terms of user numbers, the 16 million+ crypto users served by South Korean centralized exchanges (more than 30% of the country's population) represent approximately 3% of the estimated 560 million cryptocurrency owners/users globally in 2025. It is worth noting that the global data includes all cryptocurrency holders, most of whom use centralized exchanges, while South Korean users primarily use regulated local platforms. Despite Bitcoin's dominant holdings, South Korea is becoming a major player in the global fiat-to-crypto space. According to Chainalysis's "Global Crypto Adoption Index 2025" report, while the United States remains the world's largest fiat currency inflow channel with a total transaction volume exceeding $2.4 trillion—almost four times that of the second-highest country—South Korea follows closely behind with an impressive transaction volume of $722 billion. This strong performance underscores the country's growing importance in the global crypto ecosystem. In contrast, the EU's fiat-to-crypto transaction volume is just under $250 billion, highlighting the size of the South Korean market. South Korea ranks 15th among the top 20 countries in the index. With its rapid adoption and strategic position as one of the largest crypto hubs, South Korea continues to solidify its position as a key player in the global crypto economy.
▲ Source: Chainalysis
Exchange-side analysis reveals
that the influence of South Korean cryptocurrency exchanges is growing not only regionally but also globally. Exchanges like Upbit, Bithumb, and Coinone dominate trading volume and thrive within South Korea's robust regulatory framework. As of October 2025, local centralized exchanges accounted for approximately 1.9% of global daily trading volume and about 3% of the total number of users on global centralized exchanges. However, when specifically measuring spot trading, South Korea's share reaches approximately 16% of global centralized exchange spot trading volume, highlighting the country's exceptionally significant influence in retail-dominated fiat-to-crypto trading, despite its relatively small percentage of total users.
▲ Trading Volume Analysis Global Comparison (Q4 2025) ( asksurf.ai )
Compared to major global markets, South Korea maintains its leading position as a global fiat-to-crypto gateway and leads in trading value in the Asia-Pacific region, thanks to an exceptionally high per capita adoption rate (30% vs. 6.8% globally) and a highly active retail trading culture.
▲ South Korea vs. Major Market Comparison (Q4 2025) ( asksurf.ai )
Regulatory Impact
South Korea was one of the first countries to establish a clear framework for trading and compliance. The government's stance has evolved through different phases in its regulatory journey, each responding to market developments:
2017-2018: Suppression and Stabilization: Viewing crypto as a speculative threat, authorities implemented ICO bans, margin trading, and anonymous account bans to ensure financial stability.
2019-2021: Pragmatic Regulation: A shift towards controlled acceptance emerged. A strict AML/KYC framework was implemented, culminating in the 2020 Act on the Reporting and Use of Specific Financial Transaction Information, establishing key reporting standards for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs).
2022-2023: Investor Protection Priority: Triggered by major events such as the Terra-Luna crash, consumer protection was prioritized during this period. The government introduced token security guidelines and over-the-counter brokerage rules, laying the foundation for future institutional products.
2024–Present: Institutional Consolidation: Cryptocurrencies have become a mainstream political and financial issue. The landmark Digital Asset Basic Act (DABA), passed in June 2025, established a comprehensive regulatory framework covering asset classification, issuance rules, stablecoins, and taxation. This period is characterized by a pursuit of balanced growth, with laws such as the Virtual Asset Users Protection Act imposing severe penalties for misconduct.
This evolution reflects the government's continuous learning in crisis response, technological maturity, and recognition that cryptocurrencies have become a permanent part of the financial landscape. To date, public figures, companies, and exchanges are also subject to disclosure and strict monitoring. South Korea is unlikely to deregulate rapidly but will continue to gradually refine policy standards, striking a balance between investor protection and market growth. Over time, this could lead to increased institutional participation, including banks offering digital asset services and securities firms participating in tokenized financial products.
With 16 million users holding approximately $70.3 billion (102.6 trillion won) in crypto assets, the depth of the South Korean market is undeniable. For any crypto project, entering the South Korean market is shifting from an option to a strategic necessity, especially ahead of the Token Generation Event (TGE). Language and cultural barriers are significant challenges in marketing. Therefore, collaborating with local crypto players is essential, particularly with media, GTM agencies, research firms, and even key opinion leaders (KOLs).
The key to long-
term marketing success in the South Korean market
lies in coordinated marketing with clear milestones. It is emphasized that at least 2-3 months are needed to build brand awareness and community engagement before listing; expecting a rapid increase in trading volume within the first two months is unrealistic.
Events lasting longer than three months and attracting more user
attention may lose momentum due to market congestion and fast-moving retail traders. Institutions aim to maintain momentum without letting events drag on too long.
Focusing on brand awareness and community building—
building brand awareness, attracting key opinion leaders (KOLs), issuing press releases, and community building—rather than simply increasing trading volume, can bring in longer-term followers and project token holders.
Engaging
with KOLs and building strong, meaningful relationships requires initiatives, translations, and incentives, such as whitelisting, to foster better understanding and advocacy of projects.
Customized Marketing Services for Different Client Types: Marketing
services are tailored for pre-TGE (before the token generation event), post-TGE, and B2B institutional clients:
Pre-TGE clients require 2-3 months of intensive, focused marketing support to establish market readiness in Korea.
Post-TGE projects continue marketing to maintain momentum and assess team strength.
B2B clients focus on institutional outreach, gaining exposure and professional events beyond retail channels.
According to institutions, projects like 0G and Sahara AI benefited from institutional support, with institutions contributing up to 40% of their node sales. SUI grew from $0.4 to $4 in two years, highlighting the importance of close coordination between internal marketing, institutional coordination, and market maker strategies. The Korean crypto market has a fragmented institutional and research landscape, with a few dominant players and varying reputations. In the following sections, I will briefly introduce the major local media, institutions, and research firms. Major
Media Outlets:
Korean crypto media play a crucial role in helping projects navigate the local market, offering a unique advantage due to their in-depth understanding of Korean trends, the regulatory environment, and cultural nuances. With a highly engaged and tech-savvy audience, Korean crypto media deliver tailored content that resonates with both retail investors and institutional participants. Their broad reach, combined with localized expertise and active community engagement, makes them essential partners for projects looking to successfully enter and thrive in Korea. This section highlights several leading media outlets to help projects better understand the media landscape of this key market. (In no particular order)
🔥 Followin ( @followin_io )
Overview
Followin is an AI-powered crypto news platform that aggregates news from across the crypto internet—news, Twitter/X, KOL opinions, on-chain signals—and transforms them into a real-time trading intelligence source for retail investors. Founded in 2022, Followin has grown into a leading crypto information infrastructure in Asia, boasting over 3 million users in the Asia-Pacific market and gaining momentum in Korea. The platform differentiates itself with a smarter AI news engine, providing trending topics and the fastest market movement signals.
Key Features
: Real-time News: Sub-second market change news and price-sensitive event alerts;
Alpha Signals: AI-curated early narratives, whale activity, and breakout opportunities;
Social Sentiment Analysis: Tracking X/TG data and top KOL trading notifications to detect sentiment shifts
; Earning and Rewards: Participating in airdrops, earning token rewards, and engaging in missions.
Followin
has successfully supported numerous crypto projects in achieving zero-to-one marketing growth in the Asia-Pacific market. Followin provides an integrated Go-To-Market service layer for crypto projects across the Asia-Pacific region, combining real-time media distribution, localized user growth solutions, and a deep KOL network into a unified launch and growth engine.
PR Services: Breaking news, PR distribution, online events
; Asia-Pacific User Growth: A one-stop solution with localized marketing strategies;
KOL Services: KOL, community, and exchange relationships. Followin emphasizes regional partnerships, co-hosting events, and supporting the Web3 ecosystem. These collaborations help expand media reach, strengthen crypto brands, and foster community building throughout Asia. The platform's PR services, professional KOL connections, and multilingual channels support crypto projects in reaching new audiences and enhancing brand awareness.
Key Competitive Advantages
: High-Quality Retail Traders: 3 million+ users on app and web, 1.7 million+ users on social channels.
Regional and Multilingual Focus: Supports real-time translation in English, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese, covering key markets in South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, and China.
Asia-Pacific Network: Deep connections with KOLs, media, and communities.
Followin is Asia's leading mobile AI aggregator, leveraging the region's high mobile penetration and the multilingual needs of retail traders. By aggregating a vast array of information sources, Followin perfectly caters to traders who prioritize speed over analytics. With strong regional partnerships, the platform demonstrates effective community building and ecosystem support. (📲 App: https://followin.io/download )
🔥 Coinness ( @CoinNess_ )
Overview:
Founded in 2018, Coinness is South Korea's largest crypto media and community platform by user base, operating as a leading live news feed in the industry. With over 1 million monthly active users, 150,000+ daily active users, and 300,000 registered community members, the platform has become the premier source for breaking crypto news and project exposure. Coinness operates its web services while maintaining a mobile app-centric approach, successfully building a large-scale, app-based crypto news and community platform—an achievement unmatched by traditional web-centric media in South Korea. In terms of mobile app traffic, Coinness ranks only behind the country's two largest exchanges, Upbit and Bithumb, and is a leader among non-exchange crypto platforms.
Key Features and Services
: Breaking News: 24/7 real-time news updates on the homepage, ensuring concise and impactful news dissemination.
News Section: PR: Insightful traditional PR articles pinned to the top of the news section for enhanced visibility.
Research: Detailed articles exploring the technical aspects of crypto projects.
Interviews: Text-based interviews presented as answering posed questions.
Pop-up Banners: Partners can display promotional banners on the platform to improve visibility.
CoinNess Night Live (CNL): Interactive AMA events held in the Coinness Telegram community, with an average of over 1000 KYC-verified participants.
Price Aggregation: Real-time digital asset prices, including detailed market data on liquidation rates, long/short ratios, funding rates, and open interest.
Core Competitive Advantages
: Real-time Asian Market Intelligence: Coinness focuses on minute-by-minute coverage of South Korean exchange activities (such as Bithumb and Upbit), tracking regulatory developments across Asia. This provides traders with a competitive edge, particularly for arbitrage and market regulatory insights.
Integrated News to Trading Process: By combining breaking news alerts with live trading (spot and futures), Coinness offers a seamless user experience from news discovery to position execution.
Deep South Korean Market Expertise: With over 7 years of experience focusing on the South Korean market, Coinness maintains unparalleled depth in local crypto culture, regulatory nuances, and community preferences—something global competitors struggle to replicate.
Mobile-First Architecture: The platform is optimized for mobile devices, offering push notifications, customizable alerts, and offline reading, catering to Asia's high mobile penetration and outperforming web-based competitors in the region.
A key differentiator
from traditional web-based media is Coinness's application of a rigorous monthly active user (MAU) metric, counting only engaged users, not one-off page visitors. This approach delivers stronger and more reliable performance in terms of traffic, pageviews, and user engagement, establishing a clear data-driven advantage in the domestic crypto media landscape. This data credibility has been recognized by leading institutions, enabling Coinness to partner with major companies such as Kakao Bank, Hanwha Investment & Securities, and Bithumb for advertising campaigns—a distinction rarely achieved by Web3 native media platforms.
Coinness provides 24/7 coverage of cryptocurrency and blockchain developments, offering real-time breaking news, market analysis, price indices, and expert insights. Its breaking news is distributed through over 30 API partners, including exchanges and media platforms, and is widely and naturally cited by traditional media and crypto KOLs, enabling information to spread rapidly throughout the industry.
As Asia's leading mobile-first crypto media aggregator, Coinness combines speed, cultural relevance, and integrated trading functionality to capture regional markets. The platform's success lies in its ability to provide active Asian traders with real-time, actionable information. Coinness's strong local market presence and seamless integration of news and trading tools make it Asia's leading real-time crypto media platform.
🔥 Blockmedia ( @with_blockmedia )
Overview
Launched in 2017, Blockmedia positions itself as South Korea's first blockchain media outlet, leading the market in the crypto space and ranking highly in its category. It is a media organization dedicated to educating and engaging a blockchain and cryptocurrency audience. Initially an online media platform, Blockmedia now engages with investors through various channels, including YouTube, Telegram, and X. The platform has gained widespread recognition through its annual "BlockFesta" conference, which attracts blockchain projects from around the world. With 36K+ social media followers and 58.7K YouTube subscribers, Blockmedia maintains 4 million monthly active users and solidifies its market leadership in the region by standing out with its comprehensive real-time coverage, global project interviews, and original research.
Key Services and Features
Press Releases: Press releases published on Blockmedia and distributed to Telegram (35K followers), including translation and editing. Enhanced exposure through Google SEO, Naver, and Telegram.
Featured Articles: Internal research articles from the Blockmedia production team, providing in-depth insights into partner projects, published on official Blockmedia channels and CoinMarketCap.
Interviews (Video/Text): Video and text interviews from the production team. Published on YouTube (58.7K subscribers) and shared on Telegram and Twitter.
External Distribution: Distribution through other Web3 media outlets to maximize reach and visibility for retail traders and users.
KOL Bridging: Blockmedia selects top KOLs for collaboration to enhance content promotion and marketing campaigns, tailoring content and budgets for each KOL.
Platform Highlights
News and Market Coverage: Real-time updates on the crypto and stock markets, in-depth coverage of technology, industry trends, and major announcements.
Regulatory Expertise: Detailed coverage of Korean regulations, including updates on stablecoins and local market policies.
Interviews/People: CEO interviews, live events, and market analysis from industry leaders.
Research: Proprietary reports on token analysis, investment insights, DeFi protocol security, market dynamics, and forecasts, developed in collaboration with other research firms.
Exceptional Video Content: A YouTube channel with 58.7K subscribers and 3,744 videos with a total of 9.65 million views, including daily content such as Fed rate analysis and in-depth protocol analysis.
Real-time News Feed: Hourly news updates via Telegram, delivering real-time market data and breaking news alerts.
Competitive Advantages
: Superior Regulatory Coverage: Blockmedia offers exceptional in-depth coverage of Korean regulations, real-time event updates, and institutional intelligence. Its regulatory analysis goes beyond simple news aggregation, providing insights unmatched by competitors.
Original Research: Blockmedia delivers exclusive market reports and insights through targeted research produced by a team of expert analysts.
Video Content Leadership: With its "블미TV" channel, Blockmedia leads in video content, providing daily updates and in-depth technical analysis on global projects, Federal Reserve interest rates, and more, setting it apart from local competitors.
Comprehensive Multimedia Coverage: Unlike other leading mobile-first media platforms, Blockmedia excels in web-based multimedia content, combining high traffic performance with in-depth content.
Blockmedia's balanced strategy, combining high traffic performance, proprietary research, and multimedia engagement, makes it the leading platform for institutional investors and retail cryptocurrency audiences in Korea. Its superior regulatory coverage and original research make it the preferred source for sophisticated investors and Web3 projects seeking broad exposure and in-depth insights. Blockmedia continues to lead in web-based reporting, serving a diverse audience with comprehensive news, interviews, videos, and research content.
🔥 Bloomingbit ( @bloomingbit_io )
Overview:
Bloomingbit is a leading South Korean cryptocurrency and blockchain media platform. Established as part of Hankyung Media Group (whose core publication is The Korea Economic Daily), South Korea's largest financial media group, Bloomingbit focuses on providing credible, real-time news and insights for crypto investors, emphasizing clarity and ease of use to help users make informed decisions without sifting through fragmented information. Positioning itself as a starting point for cryptocurrency investment, the platform offers curated reporting by dedicated blockchain journalists, targeting both Korean and international audiences with bilingual content. Its team, comprised of writers and editors, targets English-speaking markets globally. They translate complex stories into clear and understandable English to share with readers.
Key features include
real-time news updates, expert-curated market trend analysis, and an easy-to-use interface that provides users with a comprehensive overview of cryptocurrency information.
Its mobile app enables access to complex stories, transforming them into actionable insights, and integrates social media sharing capabilities to amplify reach.
In-depth analysis includes topics such as Bitcoin predictions for 2026, coverage of major trades, and analysis of economic crossroads.
It offers a variety of cryptocurrency content: startup token launches, exchange-listed cryptocurrencies, developer product releases, PR firms collaborating with crypto clients, projects conducting IDOs or ICOs, DAO governance, and more.
Bloomingbit's main services include
: Organic News Publishing: Editorially selected content (not ad-driven) (e.g., token launches, technology updates, industry collaborations, public events, and reports);
Paid Content Delivery: Promotional or time-sensitive content (e.g., exchange listings, token sales, product launches, AMA announcements);
Press Release Publishing: Enhancing press release SEO and properly tagging for long-term search engine rankings. (Such as company updates, financial reports, investor news, security audits, protocol changes, etc.) Bloomingbit's services cover comprehensive news coverage of blockchain, Bitcoin, Ethereum, NFTs, DeFi, Web3, altcoins, regulatory developments, exchange activities (such as Upbit, Bithumb), and global trends, typically focusing on the Korean market.
Core Competitive Advantages
: Reputation and Support from Traditional Media: As part of Hankyung, Bloomingbit benefits from established journalistic standards and a broad financial network, setting it apart from other independent media. This gives Bloomingbit an advantage in attracting serious investors.
Curated Insights and User-Centric Content: Bloomingbit emphasizes actionable stories handpicked by its journalists, contrasting with the rapid updates of other media that can overwhelm users with information. Distribution channels include Upbit, Bithumb, Tradingview, hankyung.com , Naver News, and more.
Events and Leadership: Bloomingbit actively participates in conferences such as Korea Investment Week, highlighting its influence and attracting investors through market consolidation forecasts and economic analysis, especially given the high cryptocurrency traffic in Korea (leading Asia).
Bloomingbit combines traditional media support, curated content, and bilingual accessibility, making it a reliable source of crypto information in South Korea. While not necessarily having the highest traffic on major platforms, it boasts a significant advantage in credibility and depth, gaining institutional exposure through its partnership with Hankyung, South Korea's largest economic journal, and the backing of local investment firm Hashed. As a subsidiary of Hankyung, Bloomingbit is gradually gaining more momentum in the market.
🔥 TokenPost ( @tokenpost )
Overview
TokenPost is South Korea's pioneering blockchain and digital asset media platform. Founded in 2017, it is the country's first professional blockchain media organization. TokenPost has developed into a comprehensive platform connecting the domestic and international blockchain industries, emphasizing trust, global coverage, and professionalism in its reporting. With over 5.2 million monthly visits, 16.4 million page views, and over 1.1 million newsletter subscriptions, it has become a leading domestic blockchain media outlet, providing fact-based insights into cryptocurrencies, DeFi, AI, Web3, policy, and industry trends, rather than mere hype.
Key Features
: Massive Scale and Coverage: Attracting over 5.2 million monthly visits and 16.4 million pageviews, demonstrating strong user loyalty through high and direct traffic.
Bilingual and Global Focus: Offering Korean and English content and expanding into markets like Thailand, facilitating international user access to and understanding of local Korean cryptocurrency news and trends.
Innovative Tools and Integrations: Providing real-time price tracking (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum, HBAR, BNB, XRP), blockchain-certified articles to ensure transparency, a KOL index to measure the influence of opinion leaders, and audio analytics through the TokenPost podcast.
Data-Driven Analytics: Offering the TPI (TokenPost Index) for market trend assessment and collaborating with data providers such as Kaiko and Messari for in-depth research.
Main Services
: News Dissemination: Providing objective, fact-based reporting on blockchain, the crypto market, DeFi, AI, Web3, regulatory updates, and security issues, including breaking news and exclusive interviews.
Research and Insights: Lowering the barrier to entry for users by providing in-depth market analysis, hidden market insights, and educational content through a knowledge encyclopedia.
Portfolio Management Tools: Korea's first integrated crypto portfolio service, allowing users to track assets across exchanges, simulate strategies, view performance rankings, and receive customized news.
Community and Events: Hosting interactive forums, rewarded lounges, and offline events such as roadshows, providing industry education and networking opportunities.
Core Competitive Advantages:
TokenPost distinguishes itself among leading media organizations through its top-tier traffic rankings, innovative tools, and role as a bridge connecting local and global markets.
Scale and Coverage: Boasting a large number of monthly visitors and strong domestic traffic, coupled with broader international access, it surpasses its competitors.
Innovation and Usability: TokenPost's portfolio management tools, blockchain notarization, and KOL index elevate it beyond a news platform, offering tangible user value lacking in its competitors. TokenPost combines data analytics and simulation tools to achieve deeper user engagement, aligning with its "smart media" positioning.
Content Depth and Expertise: Focusing on insights, exclusive interviews, and research (such as collaborations with Kaiko and Messari), TokenPost provides objective analysis, avoiding hype. TokenPost's event hosting (such as the Onchain Symposium) and policy focus give it a stronger thought leadership position in the market.
Global and Partnership Focus: Expanding into the Thai market and establishing partnerships with companies like Crypto.com and Chiliz solidify TokenPost's leading position among local media.
Overall, TokenPost, with its massive scale, user-centric tools, and in-depth content, has become a pioneer in driving a sustainable ecosystem in the dynamic crypto market of South Korea, leading in traffic and innovation and bridging a global audience.
Key Go-To-Market Agencies:
In the South Korean cryptocurrency market, the role of marketing agencies is self-evident, with many high-performing agencies—including those that prefer anonymity—playing crucial roles. Here, based on available data and information, we highlight three agencies: INF CryptoLab, 071Labs, and DeSpread, emphasizing their capabilities in cryptocurrency marketing. For more information about these agencies, please feel free to contact us. (In no particular order)
🔥 INF CryptoLab ( @INF_CryptoLab )
Overview:
INF CryptoLab is a leading Web3 accelerator and marketing company in South Korea, renowned for its rapid success since its founding in 2020. As one of the largest marketing agencies in South Korea, INF has gained a strong reputation for helping crypto projects navigate and thrive in the South Korean market.
Our main services include
KOL marketing and management,
brand story building and strategic planning to ensure a sustained brand presence.
We identify top-performing KOLs and
tailor content and sustained exposure to achieve maximum results with minimal expenditure, going beyond single content releases
. We track performance through actionable data.
Our research and education services
offer comprehensive research across Web2/Web3 platforms, media, and academia.
We provide online and offline educational content to enhance market awareness.
Our SEO/SEM and blog services
partner with leading blog KOLs to improve visibility on search engines, focusing on platforms like Naver. Our
traditional and crypto PR services
have expertise in selecting suitable media partners to ensure broad exposure. We
offer comprehensive coverage across over 20 media outlets on Web2 and Web3 platforms.
Our event organization (online and offline)
has extensive experience organizing crypto events, including online interactive events, AMAs, offline conferences, and hackathons. We
provide YouTube/TV interviews, offering opportunities for projects to be featured on top Korean startup YouTube channels.
Our community management
services manage and build a Korean Telegram community, driving engagement through KOL support and localized events.
Key partner
INF CryptoLab has collaborated with leading global Web3 projects, including Sui, Avalanche, Injective, NEO, Openledger, Sahara, Magic Labs, and Walrus. They have also established partnerships with renowned companies such as Uniswap, Mantle, 0g Labs, Orbiter Finance, Oasys, Hashkey Global, Plume, Kite AI, RedStone, ZKPass, Jito, and Pyth.
Notable success stories include:
SUI: Exclusive marketing partner in South Korea for over 2.5 years, collaborating with multiple projects on the SUI platform.
0G Labs: Contributed 30% of its node sales through KOL influence.
Aethir: Led the market entry strategy for tokens and products, generating revenue for Korean institutions.
Hyundai Card Conference: Successfully partnered with Hyundai Card to host events.
Kite AI: Enhanced brand awareness in the Korean market through a KOL+INF focused model, securing a listing opportunity in Korea.
INF CryptoLab offers flexible, high-quality services with a contract-based team of freelance KOLs. Their customized service packages cover Web2 and Web3 channels, ensuring successful entry of overseas projects into the Korean market.
🔥 071Labs ( @071_labs )
Overview:
071 Labs is a leading GTM incubator and venture capital firm in South Korea, known for its large client base and market influence. By leveraging innovative blockchain technology, investments, and diversified business models, 071 Labs supports the growth of blockchain startups and promising projects. 071 Labs works closely with project owners, KOLs, and media to help turn ideas into reality, enabling its partners to take the lead in the digital economy.
Our main services include:
KOL Ambassador Programs and Corporate Alliances
: Planning and managing KOL ambassador programs and alliances to enhance project exposure and credibility;
PR and Media Promotion:
Publishing public relations content and articles in the crypto space and traditional mainstream media to enhance brand presence and ensure strategic media exposure;
Community Building and Viral Marketing:
Establishing and managing online communities, conducting viral marketing campaigns, and promoting engagement and awareness in the Korean market;
YouTube Content Creation
: Developing and producing YouTube content to promote projects and reach a wider audience;
Blogging, Editing Services, and SEO:
Content creation, blog publishing, and SEO strategies to increase online visibility and drive traffic growth.
Key Case Studies/Performance Track Records
: Perp DEX Growth: Driven billions in trading volume growth for perpetual DEX partners.
Korea Node Distribution: Generated $2 million in node sales for projects such as Aethir, Carv, Delysium, and Moonveil.
Web2 → On-Chain User Acquisition: Helped bring Web2 users on-chain—making Korea Catizen's second-largest market and generating $1 million in gaming revenue within 8 months.
Founder Exposure (Web2 Retail Coverage): Secured traditional media interviews for founders, enhancing their digital presence and reaching the Web2 retail market.
Providing PMF Support for Web2 Companies: Built and promoted the Tada mini-app, supporting Tada's service offerings and improving PMF (Product-Market Fit).
Marketing and Portfolio:
071 Labs collaborates with top blockchain projects in marketing, including: Catizen, UXLink, Blum, Pendle, Vana, Aethir, Carv, TON, Metis, VeChain, Ultiverse, Hooked Protocol, MVL, Navi Protocol, Scallop, Delysium, Sleepless, Tellor, Particle Network, Farcana, Prom, Metacean, Hippocrat, Sahara AI, io.net , GoPlus, Sonic, Aster, and OpenEden. In terms of investments, it includes: Particle Network, Catizen, UXLink, Zerobase, Solv, Nubit, Aria, Vanila Finance, Multiple Network, Aimeme, OpenEden, Aster, Momentum, Moss, Tria, and Billions.
As South Korea's largest GTM incubator and venture capital firm, 071 Labs provides a comprehensive ecosystem for blockchain projects, covering all aspects from fundraising and marketing to community building and viral growth. They possess Dokdo DAO (South Korea's largest KOL DAO with 50,000+ members) and Blockstreet (a South Korean crypto PR/media agency with 4,000 daily active users), providing a competitive edge in the market.
By pioneering blockchain technology and reshaping the cryptocurrency ecosystem, 071 Labs creates innovative business models and unlocks new opportunities. They focus on collaborating with innovators, creatives, and visionaries to accelerate startup growth through strategic investments, technical expertise, and partnerships. 071 Labs is committed to ensuring long-term innovation and market leadership, building a sustainable foundation for the future of the digital economy. As architects in the blockchain space, they are the ideal partner for projects seeking to revolutionize the industry.
🔥 DeSpread ( @DeSpreadTeam )
Overview
Founded in 2019, DeSpread is one of the largest Web3 growth studios in terms of client scale and market influence, providing Go-To-Market (GTM) strategic consulting for blockchain projects in the Asia Pacific Region (APAC). DeSpread has over 30 experts who are pioneering and continuously innovating growth in the Korean Web3 GTM space. To date, DeSpread has supported over 100 global blockchain projects without relying on external investment. The organization is recognized for driving Web3 growth in South Korea through data-driven strategies, helping overseas projects successfully enter the Korean market.
Key services include:
Brand Consulting -
Customized GTM strategies based on market insights and narrative development;
Web3 Product-Market Fit (PMF) and brand building consulting;
Building local partnerships and providing ecosystem support for market entry;
Growth Strategy and Media Communications
- Data-driven product growth and marketing strategy consulting;
Media Relations Management, Crisis PR, and Social Media Strategy;
Comprehensive online/offline event operations and media distribution;
Research and Market Insights
- Providing in-depth market research reports and data-driven insights;
Helping clients track industry trends and build valuable connections;
Validator Services -
Validators and Infrastructure: Operating mainnet validators on multiple networks including Hyperliquid, Berachain, Story, Monad, Stacks, and Avail, while also serving as an LST validator on Berachain, Hyperliquid, and Monad, providing trusted technical support in the region;
DAT (Digital Asset Treasury) Strategists -
Pioneering Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) opportunities in South Korea,
connecting global DAT investors with top South Korean financial institutions.
We develop customized asset acquisition strategies for investors with different risk appetites and provide tailored solutions.
Key Partners and Case Studies:
As one of the earliest and longest-established GTM companies in South Korea, DeSpread partnered with projects such as Solana, Stacks, The Sandbox, and Filecoin from its early stages. Over time, their partner list has expanded to include numerous successful cases such as Aptos, Sui, Arbitrum, Berachain, Soneium, Story, Babylon, and Gensyn.
As a deep ecosystem participant, DeSpread is committed to promoting a comprehensive GTM strategy through a two-track framework: matching on-chain product providers with the needs of existing and potential on-chain users, and
connecting projects with investment decision-makers through education and relationships. These goals are based on its core services—brand consulting, growth strategy, research, and validator services—strategically incorporating DAT coverage as a special tool into the ecosystem to promote institutional collaboration and enterprise usability. DeSpread also expanded its reach to retail and bulk user adoption capabilities through the DATCON2025 conference, achieving comprehensive GTM coverage for users and investors.
Key Research Firms:
South Korean exchanges heavily rely on research firm reports for due diligence during project listings, highlighting the importance of neutral and credible research for market participation. Led by Four Pillars, Tiger Research, and Xangle, South Korea's research firm ecosystem is consolidating into a powerful force shaping its cryptocurrency market. (In no particular order)
🔥 FourPillars ( @FourPillarsFP )
Overview:
FourPillars is one of Asia's fastest-growing crypto research firms, headquartered in Seoul, focusing on providing professional, data-driven analytics for institutions and crypto natives. Founded with a focus on providing high-quality industry insights, the company aims to shape the Asian blockchain narrative through research, infrastructure, and impact. With a dedicated research team, FourPillars is expanding its influence beyond South Korea, covering English-speaking countries and the wider Asian market.
Core Business and Highlights
Four Pillars' core business revolves around producing in-depth research to bridge the gap between institutional investors and the crypto ecosystem. The company collaborates with blockchain projects to foster ecosystem growth, including business expansion and developer opportunities in South Korea. They have also launched a validator brand – FP Validated – to further promote ecosystem development.
Research Reports and Articles: Providing comprehensive, neutral guidance and outlook analysis reports for builders, retail investors, and investors.
Validator Services: Launching theory-driven blockchain validators for L1/L2 blockchains, targeting investors and traders.
Data-Driven Tools: Providing public dashboards for crypto projects, analyzing and showcasing key metrics.
Ecosystem Contributions: Driving global projects into the South Korean market through event reviews and project collaboration initiatives.
Strengths and Conclusions
Four Pillars focuses on institutional-grade, forward-looking research, providing in-depth technical analysis (e.g., ZK proofs, Real Assets (RWAs), ecosystem prospects). Their research aims to help crypto natives with strategic planning, while their narrative-driven approach combines technical depth with actionable insights to drive ecosystem growth. This focus sets Four Pillars apart from the competition.
Selective Validators: Top validators operate only on selected on-chains.
Validated Product-Market Fit: Research has demonstrated clear market suitability.
Scalable Growth: Validators are used for strategic expansion, not to divert core business efforts.
Industry Leader Trust: Widely trusted by founders, funds, and the community.
First-Mover Advantage: A pioneer in shaping the institutional crypto narrative in Korea.
Expanding Regional Influence: Expanding its influence across the wider Asian region.
🔥 TigerResearch ( @tiger_research )
Overview:
Tiger Research is a South Korean research and consulting firm focused on the Web3 and blockchain space, with a strong emphasis on the Asian market. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Seoul, the company has branches in key cities such as Tokyo, Hanoi, and Jakarta, expanding its presence in regions including Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, and China. Tiger Research provides comprehensive solutions for global Web3 projects to enter and expand into the Asian market, leveraging its deep understanding of the local market to help projects succeed in Asia.
Core Business and Highlights:
Tiger Research positions itself as a “guide” for global Web3 projects in Asia, offering a comprehensive, execution-oriented market entry approach. The company combines bottom-up market research with results-oriented business strategies to minimize risk and help clients accelerate growth. Tiger Research emphasizes long-term partnerships, problem-solving capabilities, and leveraging local networks to create sustainable success in complex markets.
Market Research and Reporting: Providing customized, in-depth reports covering regulations, market trends, and ecosystem dynamics. These reports are published twice a week, tracking the latest developments in countries such as South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
Business Development and Consulting: Providing tailored Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies, compliance guidance, and market entry solutions. Daily tracking of government policies and trends in target regions.
Partnerships and Ecosystem Building: Leveraging over 30 local partners to foster collaboration and create synergies. For example, co-publishing reports on the Southeast Asian market with other research firms. Also serving as a research partner for events such as Malaysia Blockchain Week.
Strengths and Conclusions:
Tiger Research distinguishes itself in the Korean crypto research space from data-centric global firms through its practice-oriented, execution-focused approach and regional expertise. The company provides customized research reports covering regulations, market trends, and business dynamics, emphasizing practical execution rather than mere conceptualization. This results-oriented approach enables clients to adapt quickly and scale in rapidly evolving markets.
Tiger Research offers end-to-end solutions, from market analysis to complete Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies, helping clients minimize risk and accelerate growth. With multi-regional coverage, a deep local network, and a commitment to trust building, Tiger Research is a practical and reliable partner for Web3 growth in Asia. By prioritizing actionable insights and long-term partnerships, Tiger Research helps clients navigate complex regional markets and achieve sustainable success.
🔥Xangle ( @Xangle_official )
Overview:
Xangle is a Korean Web3 research and infrastructure company focused on providing institutional-grade market research, on-chain ecosystem infrastructure, and transparency tools for the Web3 ecosystem. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Seoul, Xangle is widely regarded as a key analytical reference point for the South Korean crypto market, one of the world's largest crypto trading hubs. Xangle's mission is to support businesses and investors through data-driven decision-making while ensuring compliance.
Xangle's
core business and highlights
are research-based, supporting its broader role in ecosystem transparency and infrastructure development. Its core activities include protocol-level analysis, research publication, and operating on-chain infrastructure such as blockchain explorers and validator nodes.
Research & Market Intelligence: Providing institutional-grade research covering regulatory updates and future prospects, accessible to institutional users through platforms such as Bloomberg Terminal.
Protocol Disclosure & Information Standards: Maintaining standardized disclosure frameworks, focusing on the accurate communication of blockchain project protocol mechanisms, governance structures, and token designs.
Blockchain Explorers & Ecosystem Infrastructure: Designing and operating official blockchain explorers and ecosystem hubs, providing unified on-chain data access, governance information, and ecosystem overviews for L1 and L2 networks.
Validators & On-Chain Operations: Operating validator infrastructure for selected blockchain networks, supporting cybersecurity and governance participation.
Strengths and Conclusions:
Xangle distinguishes itself through its quantitative on-chain data and institutional-grade integration, positioning itself as a leading platform for real-time analytics and compliance in the Asian crypto market. Unlike other qualitative or consultancy-oriented companies, Xangle offers evidence-based research with a particular focus on regulatory alignment and market transparency, making it especially suitable for South Korea's stringent crypto environment. Its data reliability, regulatory focus, and global integration make Xangle a valuable tool for institutions, exchanges, and crypto projects in Asia's highly competitive crypto market.
Introduction and Strategic Value Assessment of Major Blockchain Conferences in South Korea South Korea
boasts a mature and diverse blockchain conference ecosystem. Major events can be categorized into global events, exchange-led developer conferences, technology-driven builder gatherings, and government-supported regional events. Below is a detailed introduction to six major conferences, covering key information such as conference overview, organizers, target audience, and impact assessment. We will also focus on assessing the strategic value of sponsoring these events for project token listings on major South Korean exchanges (such as Upbit or Bithumb) and enhancing project brand awareness in South Korea.
Overview of Major Blockchain Conferences in South Korea Korea
Blockchain Week (KBW)
KBW is South Korea's largest and most internationally influential annual blockchain event, held annually since 2018. It is not only an industry conference but also a week-long Web3 festival, with its flagship conference "IMPACT" at its core.
Organizers: FACTBLOCK (founder and organizer), and co-organizers such as Hashed (a major crypto venture capital firm).
Target Audie
