Stock and crypto interest jumps 96% in South Korea

South Korea has recorded a 95.7% year-over-year increase in online interest in stocks and crypto, placing it first among more than 45 countries examined in a September 2026 retail investment study. Summary South Korea led the ranking with a 95.7% rise in search interest over 13 weeks. Singapore placed second with 66% growth, followed by Spain at about 61%. Argentina and Bangladesh completed the top five with increases of roughly 50% and 49%. Investment-related searches in the United States and Canada rose by around 30% from a year earlier. Coin Insider analyzed Google Trends data from 2025 and 2026 to compare how often people searched for ways to invest in stocks and cryptocurrencies. The study assessed more than 45 countries and compared a recent 13-week period with the same period one year earlier. Researchers also examined four-week search changes to see whether interest had continued after the longer measurement period. Stock market capitalization and gross national savings, both expressed as a percentage of gross domestic product, were added to provide economic context. Search activity measures public interest rather than completed purchases, account openings, or trading volum...