- Searches For Stocks and Crypto Nearly Double in South Korea as Retail Investing Expands
South Korea has recorded the fastest growth in online interest in stocks and cryptocurrencies among more than 45 countries studied, with investment-related searches rising 95.70% over the latest 13-week period compared with the same period a year earlier.
The findings, compiled by Coin Insider using Google Trends data from 2025 and 2026, point to a broad increase in retail interest across developed and emerging markets as digital investment platforms make financial markets more accessible to individual investors. Singapore, Spain, Argentina and Bangladesh completed the top five countries with the strongest year-on-year increase in search interest.
The figures measure changes in online searches rather than actual purchases, trading volumes or the number of new investors, an important distinction when interpreting the results. They nevertheless provide an indication of how rapidly public interest in stocks, cryptocurrencies and investment opportunities is changing across different economies.
South Korea topped the ranking with investment search interest increasing 95.70% over the latest 13 weeks compared with the corresponding period last year. Search interest over the most recent four-week period remained 51.00% higher year on year, suggesting that the increase has continued beyond an isolated spike.
The country also has a relatively deep financial market, with stock-market capitalisation equivalent to 147.20% of GDP, according to the latest data used in the study. Gross savings stood at 35.60% of GDP, providing a broader indication of the economy’s capacity to generate savings, although that measure should not be interpreted as the proportion of each household’s income available for investment.
Singapore ranked second after recording a 66.10% rise in investment-related searches over 13 weeks and a 38.90% increase during the latest four weeks. Its stock-market capitalisation stood at 136.50% of GDP, while gross savings were equivalent to 40.00% of GDP, the highest savings ratio among the study’s top three markets.
Spain placed third with search interest increasing 60.90% over 13 weeks and 59.40% over the latest four weeks. Unlike some markets where longer-term search growth has begun to moderate, Spain’s recent figures indicate that interest remained close to the pace recorded across the broader 13-week period.
Its stock-market capitalisation was equivalent to 68.10% of GDP, while gross savings stood at 24.30% of GDP. The combination suggests that the increase in search activity is taking place in a relatively established financial market, although the research does not establish whether those searches subsequently resulted in investment transactions.
Argentina ranked fourth with a 51.10% rise in 13-week search interest, while searches during the latest four weeks were 61.10% higher than a year earlier. Its stock market was considerably smaller relative to the economy, with capitalisation equivalent to just 8.40% of GDP, and gross savings were recorded at 13.40%.
The Argentine figures may be particularly notable given the country’s long history of inflation and currency instability, which has often increased public interest in alternative stores of value. However, the search data alone cannot determine whether users were primarily seeking domestic equities, overseas assets or cryptocurrencies.
Bangladesh rounded out the top five with investment search interest rising 49.00% over the 13-week period. More strikingly, searches over the latest four weeks increased 130.20% year on year, the fastest short-term acceleration among countries in the top 10.
Bangladesh’s stock-market capitalisation was equivalent to only 5.70% of GDP, the lowest among the 10 leading countries, while gross savings stood at 34.80% of GDP. That divergence between a relatively small domestic stock market and rapidly increasing online interest raises questions about whether investors are increasingly seeking exposure beyond their home exchanges, although the research does not establish where those prospective investments are directed.
The United Kingdom ranked sixth after investment-related search interest rose 47.60% over 13 weeks and 82.40% during the latest four-week period. The sharp acceleration in the shorter period suggests that British interest in stocks and crypto has strengthened further recently.
The UK’s stock-market capitalisation was equivalent to 97.30% of GDP, while gross savings stood at 17.20% of GDP. The increase comes as app-based brokers and digital financial platforms continue to reduce some of the traditional barriers that previously made direct market participation more costly or complex for smaller investors.
Australia ranked seventh with a 31.70% increase in 13-week search interest, followed by Canada at 30.50% and the United States at 30.20%. The United Arab Emirates completed the top 10 with growth of 26.00% over the longer period but a much stronger 64.40% increase during the latest four weeks.
The US remained by far the largest equity market relative to economic output among the countries in the ranking, with stock-market capitalisation equivalent to 224.00% of GDP. Canada followed at 199.20%, while the UAE stood at 190.90%, illustrating that rising search interest is occurring in both highly developed capital markets and countries where retail participation is still evolving.
Coin Insider attributed part of the broader increase to the accessibility of modern investment technology. A financial analyst for the organisation said mobile platforms had lowered traditional barriers associated with brokerage costs and access, allowing retail investors in a much wider range of countries to investigate global financial markets.
That democratisation of access has important implications for capital markets, but it also increases the importance of financial literacy. Easier access to stocks and cryptocurrencies can broaden participation and allow households to diversify savings, but it can also expose inexperienced investors to volatility, leverage and speculative assets they may not fully understand.
The distinction is especially important with cryptocurrencies, where prices can move sharply and investor protections may differ significantly from those available in regulated securities markets. Rising search interest should therefore not automatically be interpreted as evidence of stronger financial inclusion or healthier household balance sheets.
The study nevertheless points to a clear global shift in attention. Investment-related searches are rising not only in major financial centres such as South Korea, Singapore, the UK and the US, but also in markets such as Bangladesh and Argentina where financial systems and economic conditions differ substantially.
South Korea’s 95.70% increase stands out as the most pronounced longer-term rise, but the shorter-period data suggest momentum is spreading. Bangladesh, the UK, the UAE and Argentina all recorded four-week growth rates above their longer 13-week increases.
For financial institutions and investment platforms, that growing interest represents a potentially larger retail market. For regulators, it increases the urgency of ensuring that easier access to global financial assets is accompanied by adequate consumer protection, transparent information and investor education.
Source: Coin Insider.
