What is the kimchi premium?

The kimchi premium is the price difference between cryptocurrency on Korean exchanges (like Upbit) and global exchanges (like Binance). It typically ranges from 0.5% to 10%+ due to South Korea's capital controls and high domestic demand. Track it live on CoinGapRadar.

Why is Bitcoin more expensive in Korea than on Binance?

Bitcoin trades at a premium in Korea (Upbit) compared to Binance due to South Korea's Foreign Exchange Act (capital controls), real-name verification requirements that restrict foreign arbitrage, and very high domestic crypto demand from Korean retail investors.

How do I track real-time crypto premiums across countries?

CoinGapRadar provides real-time crypto premium data across 9 countries: Korea (Upbit), Japan (bitFlyer), USA (Coinbase), Australia (CoinSpot), India (WazirX), Indonesia (Indodax), Brazil (Mercado Bitcoin), Mexico (Bitso), and Nigeria (Luno). It compares all local exchange prices against Binance in real time.

What is the best cryptocurrency for international arbitrage?

XRP and XLM (Stellar) are the best coins for international crypto arbitrage because they settle in 3-5 seconds with near-zero transfer fees. This minimizes price exposure during cross-exchange transfers. DOGE and TRX are also popular for their fast settlement times.

Which country has the highest crypto premium?

Argentina historically has the highest crypto premium (sometimes 20-50%+ at official exchange rates) due to hyperinflation and strict capital controls. Among more accessible markets, Korea (kimchi premium) typically ranges 1-10%, followed by Nigeria (2-8%) and Japan (1-5%).

📊 How to Read a Crypto Premium Tracker
Complete Beginner's Guide

March 2026 · 6 min read · Tutorial · Premium Tracker · Arbitrage

A crypto premium tracker shows you the price difference between a local exchange and a global benchmark (usually Binance). This seemingly simple number is one of the most powerful signals in crypto trading — if you know how to read it.

What Does the Premium Percentage Mean?

The premium is calculated as:

    Premium = (Local Price − Binance Price) / Binance Price × 100%

    Example: Upbit XRP = $2.06 | Binance XRP = $2.00

    Premium = (2.06 − 2.00) / 2.00 × 100 = +3.0%

Positive Premium (+%)

A positive premium means the local exchange price is higher than Binance. This is the classic "Kimchi Premium" situation.

+0.1% to +1%: Normal — just exchange spread and minor local demand
+1% to +5%: Noticeable — local buying pressure, possible arbitrage opportunity
+5% to +15%: High premium — strong local FOMO, major arbitrage opportunity
+15% and above: Extreme — market overheating, seen in Korea 2017/2021

Negative Premium (−%) — "Reverse Premium"

A negative premium (called 역프 in Korean) means the local price is lower than Binance. This is rarer but equally exploitable.

0% to -1%: Slightly cheap — typical bear market or low-volume period
-1% to -3%: Discount territory — strong selling pressure, reverse arbitrage possible
Below -3%: Panic selling — local market dumping faster than global

How to Use the Premium as a Market Signal

Premium Level	Market Reading	Action
+10% and rising	Local market overheating	Potential sell signal for local holders
+3% to +10%	Active arbitrage window	Arbitrage opportunity (if fast coin available)
-1% to +1%	Markets aligned	No major signal
-3% and falling	Local panic selling	Potential buy for long-term investors

Reading the CoinGapRadar Interface

Select a country: Click any country button (KR, JP, IN, etc.) to see that exchange's premium vs. Binance.
Select a coin: Switch between BTC, ETH, XRP, XLM, DOGE, TRX to compare premiums across assets.
Use the "vs" comparison: Compare two local exchanges directly (e.g., Korea vs. Japan) to find cross-market opportunities.
Check the ranking: The global ranking shows which country has the highest premium right now — useful for spotting hot markets.

    💡 Key Insight: Premiums tend to be highest in countries with strict capital controls (South Korea, India) and lowest in countries with free capital flows (USA, Australia). The gap reflects how "closed" a market is.
  

📡 Try the Live Premium Tracker →