Since the launch of Bitcoin (BTC), the coin has been the permanent anchor of the crypto market. Yet a striking shift will emerge in 2025. In South Korea, one of the busiest crypto markets in the world, not Bitcoin but XRP has become the most traded cryptocurrency. What drives this change and why there?
Bitcoin makes way for XRP
Ripple (XRP) was the most traded cryptocurrency on South Korean trading platforms in 2025. XRP thus left both Bitcoin and Ethereum (ETH) behind.
Data from Upbit, the country’s largest trading platform, shows that trading volume in XRP has risen to more than a trillion dollars. This involves tens of millions of dollars in transactions every day. This indicates exceptionally high liquidity and structural use of the currency.
It is striking that the XRP price does not fully reflect this activity. In the summer of 2025, the price peaked around a few dollars, but XRP is now significantly lower. This means that trading pressure is mainly driven by usage and liquidity, not by speculative price increases.
South Koreans are choosing XRP en masse
According to crypto analyst X Finance Bull, the popularity of XRP in South Korea is no coincidence. He points to the practical nature of the network and the fact that XRP is actually used within financial infrastructures.
The focus is on the XRP Ledger (XRPL), which is specially designed for fast and cheap cross-border payments. Transactions are processed within seconds at low costs. This makes the network attractive in a market where speed and liquidity are central.
South Korean investors have long been known for their preference for coins with clear use cases. In that context, XRP fits better than many other major cryptocurrencies that are mainly held as a store of value, such as Bitcoin (BTC).
XRP as the backbone of a new financial system
Ripple now focuses on more than just payments. The CEO of Germany’s largest stock exchange recently called XRP “the backbone of the financial system of the future.”
According to him, the technology behind XRP is ideally suited to support banks worldwide. He considers price targets of up to $100 to be realistic, not because of hype, but because of the fundamental usefulness of the network.
Versan Aljarrah of Black Swan Capitalist also shares that view. He sees XRP becoming a digital counterpart to central bank reserves and even gold.
Thanks to stable transaction costs, high scalability and growing global adoption by financial institutions, XRP is increasingly seen as a strategic instrument instead of a speculative altcoin, he said.
Source: https://newsbit.nl/xrp-verslaat-bitcoin-populairste-cryptomunt-in-zuid-korea-in-2025/
