South Korean crypto exchanges are reportedly set to delist meme cash, with so-called “kimchi cash” additionally within the crosshairs.
Per the South Korean media outlet Viewers, the reviews have left crypto merchants “involved” {that a} looming “disaster” may comply with.
Will South Korean Crypto Exchanges Delist Meme Cash?
The outlet claimed that merchants are additionally heeding distinguished “warnings that kimchi cash,” and “meme cash with no sensible use could also be nearly worn out within the occasion of a market correction.”
I say this having witnessed markets for 50 years. Some will do nice from right here ahead. However too many fools will get too leveraged, miss the highest and get blown out within the subsequent 50% correction in BTC, 90% correction in altcoins, 100% correction in memes https://t.co/o33Jnq4IHz
— Peter Brandt (@PeterLBrandt) January 6, 2025
Kimchi cash are low-cap tokens which are listed completely on home crypto exchanges. Whereas some have hyperlinks to South Korean companies or entrepreneurs, others haven’t any connection to the nation.
Lately, many merchants have confronted accusations of kimchi coin value manipulation makes an attempt.
And this has introduced them to the eye of regulators, who’ve vowed to “defend traders” from value manipulation.
The media outlet quoted unnamed “trade sources” as claiming that the market-leading trade Upbit has determined to delist Bitcoin Gold (BTG) on January 23.
This follows the Upbit listings panel’s resolution to mark the coin as a “token of concern” in December final yr.
The Upbit panel cited a number of causes for its “token of concern” label for Bitcoin Gold, together with a scarcity of “transparency” in coin administration. It additionally raised questions on “the sustainability” of the coin’s “enterprise” mannequin.

BTG the Tip of the Iceberg?
The media outlet famous that the majority main worldwide crypto exchanges delisted Bitcoin Gold a number of years in the past. And this implies the token has turn into a de facto “kimchi coin,” it added.
On the final day of 2024, 80.4% of all world Bitcoin Gold buying and selling came about on Upbit. On the identical day, 18.1% of BTG merchants had been energetic on home rival Bithumb and 0.23% on Coinone.
Per Maeil Kyungjae, Coinone has sought to take benefit, providing prospects Bitcoin (BTC) giveaways in the event that they transfer their BTG cash onto the platform from a rival home platform.
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— The Korea Herald 코리아헤럴드 (@TheKoreaHerald) January 7, 2025
The Bitcoin Gold case is unlikely to impress regulators, who’ve lengthy urged crypto exchanges to streamline their itemizing and delisting course of to keep away from value manipulation makes an attempt.
Viewers wrote: “The confusion is anticipated to be resolved when the monetary authorities current their tips on itemizing and delisting.”
Earlier makes an attempt to create a self-regulating physique for the trade seem to have led to failure.
A self-governing physique has been launched. However the physique’s lack of “enforcement energy,” means “every trade nonetheless makes use of its personal itemizing and delisting standards,” the media outlet wrote.
Meme Coin Builders Taking a New Flip?
Viewers additionally claimed that merchants are actually involved that meme cash “that had been created only for enjoyable,” may “be worn out within the occasion of a market adjustment.”
It claimed the trade is conscious of “a motion to interrupt away from easy meme cash, citing Shiba Inu (SHIB)’s new ecosystem token undertaking TREAT for instance.

James Toledano, the Chief Working Officer at Unity Pockets, advised Cryptonews.com that the way forward for meme cash “relies upon solely on their capability to evolve past hype.”
Toledano argued that tokens should “display some intrinsic worth or utility.” However he added that meme cash’ reputation “demonstrates the ability of community-driven narratives within the crypto house.”
“For meme cash to endure, they have to incorporate tangible use-cases, corresponding to funds, DeFi integration, or gamification, slightly than relying solely on speculative buying and selling and bullshit memes. Meme cash could persist as cultural phenomena. However their long-term viability would require a shift towards worth creation, slightly than pure hypothesis.”
James Toledano, Chief Working Officer, Unity Pockets
In the meantime, an unnamed South Korean trade insider advised Viewers:
“Speculative patterns are continuously repeated within the crypto market. When the market bubble bursts, meme cash and different cash with no utility will inevitably be the primary within the line of fireside.”
Gemini Belief Firm agreed to pay a civil penalty of $5 million to settle US Commodity Futures Buying and selling Fee prices in reference to statements it made in reference to its bitcoin futures contract in 2017, a court docket submitting confirmed https://t.co/AQ4mlWx4tm pic.twitter.com/t5p2GaFPBU
— Reuters Authorized (@ReutersLegal) January 6, 2025
“Meme cash haven’t any actual worth. They’re an emblem of the immaturity of the general crypto market. However I feel it’s a stage the market must see by means of to the top to mature correctly into what it may be. Will meme cash at all times be round? Sure. However their reputation will wane in favor of initiatives that really do one thing.”
Matthew Ruley, Director of Content material at Dypto Crypto, talking to Cryptonews.com on Jan. 7
Regardless of the various warnings, there isn’t any clear signal of a meme coin slowdown simply but. The Solana group’s newest meme coin, Pudgy Penguins just lately reached a market cap of $2.85 billion.
“Sasa” is an essay the place I clarify y I feel #crypto tops out in mid-Mar after which severely corrects. Till then is time to bop. https://t.co/Apt124sOjp pic.twitter.com/LKQ24GMtpq
— Arthur Hayes (@CryptoHayes) January 6, 2025
Regardless, some specialists suppose a “correction” is now inevitable. The previous BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes claimed on January 6 that crypto markets would peak in mid-March this yr earlier than “severely correcting.”
The put up Merchants Concern as South Korean Crypto Exchanges ‘Set to Delist Meme Cash, Kimchi Cash’ appeared first on Cryptonews.