Crypto exchange users in South Korea have surpassed 16 million, a number expected to approach 20 million by the year's end, according to industry officials. This surge followed US President Donald Trump's election win last November. Data presented to Cha Gyu-geun, a representative from the Rebuilding Korea Party, indicated that 16 million users represent over 30% of South Korea's total population of 51.7 million. The data was collated from leading exchanges including Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit, and Gopax, with users having multiple accounts counted only once. Investors collectively held assets worth 102.6 trillion South Korean won (approximately $70.3 billion) as of December last year. Interestingly, this number of crypto investors exceeds the 14.1 million individual investors listed in Korea's stock market, highlighting a growing interest in cryptocurrencies. The Ethical Commission for Government Officials reported that 411 out of 2,047 officials disclosed holding crypto assets totaling approximately 14.4 billion won (around $9.8 million). Amidst discussions of market saturation, officials still see significant growth potential compared to traditional stock markets.

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