South Korean retail investors are increasingly influencing the price of Ether, contributing to its rise alongside global institutional investment and corporate treasury activities. According to Samson Mow, CEO of Bitcoin technology firm Jan3, about $6 billion in Korean retail investment is vital for maintaining Ether’s current valuation.

“ETH influencers have been flying to South Korea just to market to retail. These investors have zero idea about the ETHBTC chart and think they’re buying the next Strategy play,” said Mow in a recent post, suggesting that such practices could lead to negative outcomes.

Upbit and Bithumb are the main centralized exchanges (CEXs) used in South Korea for trading Ether, which is now just 7% below its all-time high. As per the latest statistics, Upbit holds the position of the 10th largest CEX in Ether futures trading, having recorded a trading volume of $1.29 billion in the last week.

Furthermore, the ‘Kimchi premium’ phenomenon, where cryptocurrencies command higher prices on South Korean exchanges compared to others, is indicative of the significant demand from local retail investors. As of recent observations, this premium has climbed to 1.93.

The market dynamics are further complicated by various opinions regarding the sustainable future of Ether treasury firms and the nature of investor awareness in the crypto landscape. Mow and other industry observers highlight that while Korean retail investments are notable, they are part of a much larger global investment framework that fuels Ether’s overall performance.