In 2026, the South Korean stock market reached a historic milestone. The KOSPI index surged from around 4,300 at the start of the year to over 8,800, marking an annual gain of more than 100%. The total market capitalization of Korean equities surpassed $5 trillion, overtaking India to become the world’s sixth-largest securities market. Against this backdrop, Gate officially launched its Korean stock trading service, enabling users to trade stocks listed on the Korea Exchange (KRX) directly with USDT. There’s no need to open a traditional Korean brokerage account or convert funds to KRW.
Why the Korean Stock Market Has Captured Global Capital’s Attention
The rise of the Korean stock market is no accident. As one of Asia’s key capital markets, the Korea Exchange (KRX) consists of the KOSPI main board and the KOSDAQ innovation board. As of June 2026, the KOSPI market’s total capitalization stood at approximately KRW 34.78 trillion (about $2.40 trillion), while the KOSDAQ market reached KRW 5.06 trillion (about $349.1 billion).
The core driver behind Korea’s strong market performance is the explosive growth of the artificial intelligence industry. Investments in AI servers have fueled a surge in demand for memory chips, with projected DRAM demand growth for 2026 revised upward from 26.2% to 28.0%. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix together contributed 72% of the KOSPI’s annual gains. The ongoing boom in semiconductors, high-bandwidth memory (HBM), and technology supply chain demand is reshaping the industry landscape and valuation system of Korea’s stock market.
At the same time, Korea’s market is becoming increasingly international. Early in 2026, the Korean stock market’s capitalization surpassed both Germany and Taiwan, climbing to eighth globally. The steady inflow of global capital is transforming Korea from a regional market into a vital component of global asset allocation.
Which Core Stocks Are Included in Gate’s Initial Korean Equity Offering?
Gate’s Korean stock service initially covers the top 1,000 listed companies by market capitalization on the Korea Exchange (KRX), spanning both the KOSPI main board and KOSDAQ market. These are leading enterprises with high market cap and liquidity. The first batch of popular stocks includes Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, NAVER, Hyundai Motor, and Celltrion.
Samsung Electronics is the flagship subsidiary of the Samsung Group and a global leader in electronics and semiconductors. As one of the world’s largest manufacturers of memory chips, smartphones, and displays, Samsung’s strategic focus on AI memory chips positions it as a primary beneficiary of the current AI wave.
SK Hynix is the world’s second-largest memory chip producer. In the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) segment, SK Hynix’s technological edge places it at the heart of the AI chip supply chain. Market analysis indicates that memory supply constraints are deepening, not easing, supporting long-term price increases and expanding profit margins.
NAVER is Korea’s largest internet company, operating the country’s leading search engine and a diverse ecosystem of online services. As a representative of Korea’s internet industry, NAVER’s investments in AI and cloud computing make it a key player in the tech sector.
Hyundai Motor is Korea’s largest automaker and the world’s third-largest automotive group. With rapid advancements in electric vehicles and autonomous driving, Hyundai is transitioning from a traditional vehicle manufacturer to a provider of smart mobility solutions.
Celltrion is a leading Korean biopharmaceutical company, holding a significant position in the global biosimilars market. As a standout in Korea’s biotech sector, Celltrion’s growth is driven by the expanding global demand for biopharmaceuticals.
Gate will continue to expand its tradable stock universe based on market cap, liquidity, and user demand, offering users a broader range of global asset allocation options.
What Are the Barriers and Costs of Trading Korean Stocks with USDT?
Compared to traditional cross-border securities investment, Gate’s Korean stock service greatly simplifies the process of accessing global capital markets. Users only need to transfer USDT to their stock account to trade during Korean market hours—no need to open a local securities account or deal with complicated currency conversions.
Trading hours are aligned with the Korea Exchange’s regular schedule, currently supporting only continuous intraday trading. Users can buy and sell stocks between 09:00 and 15:20 Korea time.
Pricing, market cap, and profit/loss are displayed in KRW, while trading fees and settlement are converted to USDT at the real-time exchange rate, providing a more intuitive and convenient trading experience.
Gate’s stock product supports fractional share trading starting at just 0.01 shares. This means users can invest in leading Korean companies with only a small amount of USDT, significantly lowering the capital barrier for cross-border stock investment.
Gate’s stock products are fully integrated with the platform’s VIP tier system. Users only need a $2,000 position to qualify for VIP status, unlocking exclusive trading fees as low as 0.023% and access to 1-on-1 account manager services. There are no funding fees, swap fees, or overnight holding charges for spot stock trades.
From US Stocks to Korean Stocks: How Gate Builds a Global Equity Product Suite
The launch of Korean equities marks a key step in Gate’s global stock product strategy. Gate’s stock section now covers three major markets: US, Hong Kong, and Korea.
For US equities, Gate supports over 10,000 mainstream US stocks and ETFs, covering NYSE (New York Stock Exchange), Nasdaq, NYSE Arca, NYSE American, BATS, and other major US trading venues and liquidity networks. US stock trading supports pre-market and after-hours sessions, extending trading hours to 16×5 and enabling users to respond promptly to earnings, announcements, and macroeconomic data.
For Hong Kong equities, Gate pioneered HK stock trading services, listing over 1,000 Hong Kong stocks across the Main Board and GEM, focusing on leading companies with high market cap and liquidity. Hong Kong stocks span core sectors including tech, finance, new energy, telecom, consumer, and biotech.
With the addition of Korean equities, Gate’s global stock market coverage is further strengthened, achieving deep access to major global securities markets and Asia’s key capital markets. US, Hong Kong, and Korean stocks share a unified account system and trading capabilities, allowing users to buy and sell, manage positions, track profit and loss, and view records all on one platform. This enables seamless allocation and management of digital and global securities assets.
Why Cross-Market Asset Allocation Is the New Investment Trend
Global investors are increasingly seeking cross-market, multi-asset allocation. Traditionally, crypto users wanting to invest in US or Hong Kong stocks had to endure a lengthy process: "sell crypto → withdraw fiat → cross-border remittance → open brokerage account and fund it," which could take days and involve multiple fees. Gate’s model streamlines this to: have USDT in your account → transfer to stock account → one-click stock purchase.
This "direct stock trading with USDT" approach essentially builds an efficient bridge between digital assets and traditional financial markets. For crypto users holding USDT, it eliminates the need for currency conversion, cross-border transfers, or opening additional brokerage accounts, allowing direct access to investments in core global capital markets.
On a broader level, the rise in cross-market asset allocation reflects investors’ pursuit of diversification, risk mitigation, and multiple sources of returns. Korea’s stock market, powered by the AI boom, has become a compelling new direction for global asset allocation. Gate’s Korean stock service is perfectly positioned to meet this structural demand.
What Does the Launch of Korean Equities Mean for Gate’s Global Strategy?
The addition of Korean equities marks a significant step in Gate’s ongoing integration of traditional finance and digital assets. In June 2026, Gate underwent rapid product iteration—from launching real US stock trading on June 1, to announcing Hong Kong stock trading on June 11, and rolling out the full web stock platform on June 12. With Korean equities now included, Gate’s global stock coverage expands from "US + HK" to "US + HK + Korea," covering three major markets.
This evolution clearly outlines Gate’s strategic trajectory: accelerating from a single digital asset trading platform to a "multi-asset allocation platform." As global regulatory frameworks become clearer, competition is shifting from single-product offerings to comprehensive global compliance and multi-asset service capabilities.
Gate connects with licensed brokers, ensuring every stock purchased is backed by real assets independently custodied through the DTC (Depository Trust Company) system in the US. This "real stock" trading model, distinct from tokenized products or contracts for difference, offers users a more transparent and secure investment experience.
Conclusion
Gate’s Korean stock trading is now live, initially covering the top 1,000 KOSPI and KOSDAQ stocks by market capitalization, with popular names like Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, NAVER, Hyundai Motor, and Celltrion available for trading. Users can invest in the Korean capital market directly with USDT, without opening a Korean brokerage account or handling currency conversion. Thanks to a unified account structure, US, Hong Kong, and Korean equities can be allocated and managed in one place, with fractional share trading starting at just 0.01 shares—lowering the barrier for cross-border investment. As global investors’ demand for cross-market, multi-asset allocation continues to grow, Gate is expanding its coverage of global securities markets, helping users access the world’s capital markets with lower barriers and greater efficiency.
FAQ
Q: Which stocks are available for trading on Gate’s Korean equity service?
A: Gate’s Korean stock service initially covers the top 1,000 listed companies by market capitalization on the Korea Exchange (KRX), spanning both KOSPI and KOSDAQ. The first batch of popular stocks includes Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, NAVER, Hyundai Motor, and Celltrion. Gate will continue to expand tradable stocks based on market cap, liquidity, and user demand.
Q: How can I trade Korean stocks with USDT?
A: Simply transfer USDT from your spot account to your stock account. You can then buy and sell Korean stocks during trading hours, without opening a Korean brokerage account or converting funds to KRW. Korean stock prices are shown in KRW, and settlement is completed in USDT at the real-time exchange rate.
Q: What are the trading hours for Korean stocks?
A: Korean stock trading hours align with the Korea Exchange’s regular schedule. Currently, only continuous intraday trading is supported. Users can buy and sell between 09:00 and 15:20 Korea time.
Q: What is the minimum investment for Korean stock trading on Gate?
A: Gate’s stock products support fractional share trading starting at just 0.01 shares, allowing users to invest in leading Korean companies with only a small amount of USDT.
Q: Which other markets does Gate support for stock trading?
A: In addition to Korean equities, Gate supports over 10,000 US stocks and ETFs, covering major US exchanges such as the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. Gate also offers more than 1,000 Hong Kong stocks across the Main Board and GEM. US, Hong Kong, and Korean stocks share a unified account system.
