XRP tops bitcoin, ether volumes on major South Korean exchanges

XRP trading volumes have surpassed those of Bitcoin and Ether on major South Korean cryptocurrency exchanges, marking a significant shift in local market activity.

According to reporting from CoinDesk on May 13, 2026, the XRP/KRW trading pair emerged as the most traded market on Upbit.

On the Bithumb exchange, the XRP/KRW pair was the second most traded market over the same period.

This concentration of trading activity is noted as a familiar signal within the South Korean market. Historically, such surges in volume for the token in this region have often preceded sharper price movements.

While Bitcoin and Ether typically dominate trading volumes on global exchanges, South Korean investors have a documented history of pushing XRP into the top volume position during periods of heightened speculative interest.