KOSPI Index Volatility Surpasses Bitcoin as South Korea Stock Market Swings Intensify

Published by

Qadir AK

August 5, 2026

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The KOSPI Index has become more volatile than Bitcoin, with its annualized volatility climbing above 60% in 2026, making it the world’s most volatile major equity benchmark. The sharp swings have been driven by the index’s heavy concentration in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which together account for more than half of its weighting, as well as rapid growth in leveraged ETFs tied to the two chipmakers. In response, South Korean regulators have tightened margin requirements, restricted leveraged ETF exposure, increased trading costs, and paused approvals for new single-stock leveraged ETFs in an effort to reduce speculation and stabilize the market.

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