South Korea's petition to abolish the 22% cryptocurrency tax has reached the threshold of 50,000 people and will be reviewed by the parliamentary committee

A petition in South Korea calling for the abolition of a 22% tax on cryptocurrency investment gains has reached the threshold of 50,000 signatures and will be reviewed by the National Assembly's Finance and Economy Planning Committee. This tax rate is set to take effect in January 2027. The petitioners argue that this tax system imposes financial and reporting burdens on investors while limiting upward mobility opportunities for young people who have been excluded from the housing market due to soaring property prices.

The petitioners point out that imposing a 22% tax rate on cryptocurrency gains while offering more favorable tax treatment to other asset classes will weaken South Korea's share in the cryptocurrency market. They warn that forcibly imposing short-term taxes could lead to industry shrinkage and the outflow of capital and talent in the long run.

Approximately 32% of South Korea's population holds cryptocurrency, but the market is contracting. The total value of cryptocurrency assets held by South Koreans has decreased from about 121.8 trillion won in January 2025 to about 60.6 trillion won in February 2026, and the daily trading volume of the five major exchanges has dropped from $11.6 billion in December 2024 to $3 billion in February.