On April 16, 2025, Hana Bank’s Hana Financial Research Institute found that one in three wealthy South Koreans owns or has owned virtual assets, pouring in an average of 42 million won per person last year.
The survey shows a clear shift in how the rich manage their money and highlights growing interest in digital investments.
One In Three South Korean Billionaires Invest In Crypto
Based on an online poll of 884 wealthy individuals, 1,545 mass-affluent people and 581 members of the general public, the report also included insights from private bankers.
Wealthy respondents were defined as those with financial assets of at least 1 billion won, while mass-affluent individuals held between 100 million and under 1 billion won.
Among the wealthy, 34% of virtual asset investors held four or more different types of crypto, and over 70% put more than 10 million won into these digital assets.
Also Read: South Korea’s Top Banks Urge Ruling Party To Ease Crypto Exchange Regulations
Reasons Behind the Trend
About half of those who have dipped into crypto said profit drove their choice, though this figure has slipped from 59% in previous years. Meanwhile, the share citing easy access rose from 21% to 37%, and those drawn by growth potential increased from 22% to 34%.
“The wealthy tend to research deeply before investing and stick to what they understand,” noted Yoon Seon‑young, a researcher at the institute.
Roughly five or six out of ten virtual asset owners plan to keep investing this year. Three out of ten remain undecided, and only one in ten has no plans to invest further. This suggests that while interest is high, many are weighing the risks.
Shifting Economic Outlook
Most wealthy Koreans now expect the real economy and property markets to worsen. In the survey, 74.8% predicted a downturn in the overall economy, while 63.8 % foresaw a drop in real estate prices.
Rather than chase property, 15.2% said they would boost their share of financial assets this year, a higher share than the 8.4% planning to shift toward real estate.
When asked about specific investments, 40.4% said they intend to put money into deposits, followed by 32.2% choosing gold and 32.0% favouring bonds.
Stocks drew interest from 29.2%, while funds and trusts appealed to 23.9 %. Real estate investment interest lagged at 20.4%.
Young vs. Old Wealth Trends
Younger, wealthier people are leading the push into foreign stocks and crypto. Stock ownership among the “young rich” stood at 78%, compared with 66.4% for their older counterparts.
Currently, foreign equities make up about 30% of young investors’ stock holdings, versus 20% for the older group, and they aim to raise that share to 40% this year.
Virtual asset ownership tells a similar story. Nearly 29% of young wealthy people hold crypto, nearly three times the rate of the older rich, at 10%. “The young rich lead investment trends and place greater trust in financial tools to grow their wealth,” said research fellow Hwang Seon‑gyeong.
As rich Koreans balance risk and reward, the charted moves into crypto and foreign stocks signal an evolving market. While safe havens like deposits and gold remain popular, digital assets have carved out a distinct place in high‑net‑worth portfolios. Financial advisers say careful study and clear goals will be key as investors navigate uncertain times.