Live data · South Korea
Kimchi premium live: Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana
The Bitcoin kimchi premium is +0.92 % right now (Upbit vs Binance, 09:42 UTC on 28 Oct 2026). On Bithumb it is +1.00 %. Upbit premium for Ethereum +1.01 %; Solana +0.96 %. Won converted at the ECB reference rate of ₩1,327.75 per dollar.
How much more Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana cost on Korea's won exchanges Upbit and Bithumb than on Binance, converted at the USD/KRW rate. Updated every 5 minutes, with 7- and 30-day history. Free, no sign-up. 한국어로 보기
Kimchi premium now
| Coin | Upbit (KRW) | Bithumb (KRW) | Binance (USD) | Premium Upbit | Premium Bithumb | vs USDT/KRW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | ₩109,101,000 | ₩109,191,000 | $81,420 | +0.92 % | +1.00 % | -0.08 % |
| Ethereum | ₩3,178,000 | ₩3,177,000 | $2,369 | +1.01 % | +0.98 % | +0.02 % |
| Solana | ₩137,600 | ₩137,700 | $102.65 | +0.96 % | +1.03 % | -0.04 % |
Kimchi premium history: 7 and 30 days
The kimchi premium on Upbit, measured every 5 minutes. Lines are 30-minute (7 days) and 2-hour (30 days) averages; the table uses every reading. History starts 26 Oct 2026 18:04 UTC, so the "30 days" columns cover 1.7 days so far.
Last 7 days
| Coin | 7d min | 7d max | 7d average | 30d min | 30d max | 30d average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | +0.26 % | +1.26 % | +0.66 % | +0.26 % | +1.26 % | +0.66 % |
| Ethereum | +0.28 % | +1.35 % | +0.67 % | +0.28 % | +1.35 % | +0.67 % |
| Solana | +0.22 % | +1.29 % | +0.68 % | +0.22 % | +1.29 % | +0.68 % |
Kimchi premium right now
Updated 28 Oct 2026, 09:42 UTC · descriptive data, not advice
- Bitcoin kimchi premium: +0.92 % on Upbit, +1.00 % on Bithumb (Binance $81,420).
- Ethereum kimchi premium: +1.01 % on Upbit, +0.98 % on Bithumb (Binance $2,369).
- Solana kimchi premium: +0.96 % on Upbit, +1.03 % on Bithumb (Binance $102.65).
- Bitcoin over the last 7 days: average +0.66 %, range +0.26 % to +1.26 %.
How the premium is calculated
premium = (KRW price / USD-KRW rate) / Binance price − 1
Example: if Bitcoin trades at ₩140,000,000 on Upbit, the dollar costs ₩1,400 and Binance shows $99,000, the Korean price is $100,000 and the premium is +1.01 %. The ECB reference rate is set once per working day, so on weekends the dollar leg stays fixed while the won price keeps moving.
Watch the flow behind the premium
A rising premium means Korean buyers are pressing; whether the rest of the market follows shows up in the order book and in futures positioning: funding rate, open interest, long/short ratio and the liquidation heatmap. New to order flow? Start with how to read an order book heatmap.
Bitcoin order book heatmap Options chain Alerts on your phone Terminal
Common questions
What is the kimchi premium?
The kimchi premium is how much more (or less) a cryptocurrency costs on South Korean exchanges, in Korean won, than on global exchanges in dollars. It is shown as a percentage: +2 % means Bitcoin on Upbit costs 2 % more than on Binance after converting won to dollars. A negative value is often called a kimchi discount.
Why does the kimchi premium exist?
Korean exchanges trade in won and only accept local bank accounts with real-name verification, and moving money in and out of Korea is limited by foreign exchange rules. Arbitrage between Korean and foreign exchanges is therefore slow and costly, so strong local demand can push Korean prices above world prices and keep them there for a while.
How is the kimchi premium calculated?
Premium = Korean price in won / USD-KRW exchange rate / global price in dollars − 1. Swiftedge uses the Upbit and Bithumb won prices, the ECB reference rate for USD/KRW and the Binance USDⓈ-M perpetual as the global price. The last column uses Upbit's own USDT/KRW price instead of the ECB rate, which removes the currency part of the gap.
What does a high or negative kimchi premium mean?
A high premium means Korean buyers are paying up compared with the rest of the world, which has often coincided with retail excitement in Korea; in the 2017-2018 and 2021 bull markets it was widely reported above 10 %. A premium near zero means prices are in line. A negative premium means Korean sellers are more eager than global ones. It describes local demand; it does not predict price.
Why do other sites show a slightly different kimchi premium?
Sites use different exchange rates (ECB reference, bank rates or USDT/KRW), spot or futures prices and different update times. The ECB rate is published once per working day, so the premium in dollars also moves when the won moves. Compare the "Premium Upbit" and "vs USDT/KRW" columns in the table above to see how much of the gap is currency.
Is there a Korean version of this page?
Yes. 한국어: the same live kimchi premium in Korean, with the important market times in Korea time (KST).
Data, not advice. Swiftedge shows market data. It is not a broker or exchange, holds no funds and does not recommend trading the premium; moving money in and out of Korea is regulated.