Decentralized derivatives exchange Lighter announces the launch of its first on-chain perpetual contracts linked to South Korean stocks, covering major companies such as Samsung, SK Hynix, and Hyundai Motor, with up to 10x leverage, allowing traders to go long or short on Korea’s flagship stocks around the clock without traditional brokers.
Lighter launches South Korean stock perpetual contracts, one-click trading for Samsung and Hyundai
On February 11, Lighter announced the official launch of perpetual contracts tied to the stock prices of major South Korean companies, including Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor, and the Korean Composite Index.
Lighter platform new listings
These contracts will use cryptocurrency as collateral and settlement units, offering up to 10x leverage, enabling traders to establish long or short positions at any time without being restricted by South Korean stock market hours or traditional broker regulations.
Lighter states that its trading architecture employs zero-knowledge (ZK) technology, optimizing execution and verification processes to maintain on-chain transparency while reducing trading costs and increasing matching efficiency. However, unlike actual stock holdings, perpetual contracts only provide exposure to price fluctuations rather than real equity, enhancing flexibility but sacrificing regulatory protections.
(What changes did NVIDIA Vera Rubin bring? Analyzing the memory war era: SK Hynix, Samsung, Micron, SanDisk)
AI and semiconductor themes heat up, Korean stocks become the new focus
In recent years, South Korea’s semiconductor and automotive industries have benefited from AI and growing global supply chain demand. Samsung and SK Hynix are seen as key drivers in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) performance. Some semiconductor-related leveraged products have performed well in recent months, increasing market attention on Korean derivatives.
Meanwhile, South Korean regulators have approved 2x leveraged ETFs linked to major companies, expected to launch this year, though retail investors still need pre-education before trading.
(South Korean retail investors love buying US leveraged ETFs! Authorities introduce new rules: training and trading tests required before purchase)
South Korean retail investors withdraw from cryptocurrencies, shift to AI stocks
Notably, as this product launches, retail enthusiasm for the crypto market has noticeably cooled. After the crypto market downturn in October 2025, local trading volume in Korea dropped over 60%, while KOSPI trading volume increased by 221%.
As of now, the top ten foreign securities with the largest net purchases by Korean investors in 2026
Bloomberg reports that South Korean retail investors, previously keen on high leverage and altcoins, have shifted their funds into semiconductor, robotics, and AI-related stocks following market corrections and losses. Notably, US companies like Alphabet ($GOOG), Tesla ($TSLA), Micron ($MU), and other leveraged or index products dominate.
Against this backdrop, Lighter’s launch of Korean stock perpetual contracts is seen as an attempt to connect bilateral capital flows, retaining retail investors’ favorite high leverage and 24/7 trading features while introducing the most popular Korean stock themes, potentially attracting capital back on-chain.
(ETH behind-the-scenes driver: South Korea’s July $259 million BMNR surge becomes the most popular overseas security)
This article about Lighter’s launch of the first batch of Korean stock on-chain perpetual contracts, enabling one-click long or short positions on Samsung and SK Hynix, first appeared on Chain News ABMedia.
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