🚀 Ethereum Shatters Local Records: Japan & South Korea Fuel Bullish Surge

Asia's crypto powerhouses just pushed ETH to unprecedented heights—while Wall Street still debates 'blockchain potential.'

The FOMO is real (and so are the trading premiums)

Retail traders in Tokyo and Seoul are piling into Ethereum at 5-8% premiums over global averages, creating textbook supply squeezes. Local exchanges report order books thinner than a regulator's understanding of DeFi.

Yen and Won liquidity floods in

With both currencies facing macro instability, crypto OTC desks see record ETH buys from high-net-worth investors—because nothing says 'hedge' like volatile digital assets.

Meanwhile, traditional finance analysts still can't decide if this is a 'speculative bubble' or 'Web3 revolution.' Spoiler: The market doesn't care.

Local Demand, Not Currency Effects

While ETH’s dollar price hovered NEAR $4,300, still 12% below its global all-time high of $4,666 in November 2021, the yen and won prices set fresh records. 

This is not because of the exchange rate effect because both the Japanese yen and Korean won have strengthened against the US dollar in the year 2025.

Instead, rising domestic buying is the key driver. Foreign investors are restricted from opening accounts on Japanese and Korean exchanges, concentrating activity among local traders.

Why Ethereum Is Rising

Several factors supported the rally, growing corporate adoption of Ethereum, Optimism after the US Securities and Exchange Commission dropped its lawsuit against Ripple, and a US presidential executive order allowing cryptocurrency investments in 401(k) retirement plans.

Institutional demand is also rising. US-listed Bitmine has accumulated over $2.9 billion in ETH, 833,137 coins in just 35 days, as part of an “Ethereum Treasury” strategy to secure up to 5% of ETH’s total supply. 

“Local records in Japan and South Korea often act as an early signal for global crypto breakouts,” said market strategist Kenji Sato.

With strong demand, policy support, and surging institutional interest, analysts believe Ethereum’s next global rally may be closer than many expect.

Also Read: BitMine Builds World’s Largest ETH Treasury in 35 Days