TRON(TRX): The true winner of the era where transfer fees have disappeared

TRON(TRX) started as a simple transfer token. However, its position in the Korean market today is far more complex and significant.

While maintaining top market capitalization globally, a different level of demand emerges in Korea. Large assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum are driven by price cycles and market narratives, whereas TRX functions daily as a genuinely “used” asset.

When Korean won funds go abroad, and foreign capital flows into Korea, TRC-20 USDT is at the center of all these channels. And the fuel that moves this network is TRX. This structure may seem simple, but it has been reinforced by enduring hundreds of billions of dollars in transaction flows over time.

Why TRX Has Become Essential in the Korean Market

The reason the TRON network has become an essential asset for Korean investors is its performance. Fast processing speed per second, extremely low failure rates, and nearly free transaction fees. These three factors create an efficiency unmatched by other global chains.

Most domestic exchanges choose TRC-20 USDT as the default transfer route. Compared to Ethereum-based USDT, it is more than twice as fast in transfer speed, with fees about one-tenth.

In peer-to-peer transfers without centralized exchanges, OTC trades, and cross-border fund movements—all activities involving tens of billions of dollars daily—TRON facilitates the transactions. While its transparency is limited, its liquidity is very high. This provides structural demand for TRX.

Kimchi Premium and Market Inefficiency Captured by TRX

The unique aspect of the Korean cryptocurrency market is the Kimchi Premium, a price difference where Korean prices are higher than overseas. The asset that can most quickly capture this opportunity is TRX.

When such price differences occur, quick-thinking investors buy low abroad, transfer funds to Korea, and sell high domestically. Speed and cost are crucial in determining profits.

TRON excels in this speed. A block is produced every 15 seconds, with actual settlement happening in seconds. This rapid response can determine the success of arbitrage. Transaction fees are almost negligible, so most of the spread becomes profit.

Additionally, TRON-based stablecoins see enormous trading volume. About 43% of global USDT issuance occurs on TRON, reflecting the network’s deep liquidity. This minimizes price shocks even during large fund movements.

Justin Sun: The Operator’s Branding

A key figure in TRON’s growth is Justin Sun(Justin Sun). He is not just a chain developer but an operator who designs and constructs the market narrative itself.

With a background from Peking University in history, a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and experience as a first-generation student at Ma Yun’s Hupan University, his background itself is a form of branding. The images of “China’s young elite” and “global crypto operator” overlap in one person.

His moves always create “scenes that attract global attention.” Lunch with Warren Buffett(about 5.4 billion won), purchasing masterpieces and turning them into bananas, investing $30 million in the Trump family’s virtual asset project—all these actions dominate media and become brand assets for TRX.

In an era where news about technological upgrades or ecosystem expansion alone cannot move markets, Justin Sun leverages art, politics, and media simultaneously to embed Tron into people’s memories. Real-world usage forms the foundation, reinforced by the activities of this operator individual.

Of course, this also entails risks. Heavy reliance on a single person means their political and legal risks can immediately impact the project. But the market already knows this. Every time he moves, real fund flows follow.

Decreasing Supply Pressure: The De-Flation Mechanism of TRX

The tokenomics of TRON are designed for long-term value creation. Out of a total supply of 100 billion, a net burn of about 1.2% to 1.8% occurs annually. Recently, governance discussions are considering increasing this to around 2%.

Similar to Bitcoin’s halving philosophy, TRON has a built-in mechanism where increased network usage automatically reduces supply. Over 4 billion TRX have been permanently burned since 2020.

This de-flationary process enhances value through three avenues:

1. Supply reduction: Circulating supply naturally decreases over time
2. Traffic increase: More USDT transfers lead to more network activity
3. Network utilization: Expansion into RWA markets, adding new dApps, etc.

When these three factors move together, TRX transitions from a simple cryptocurrency to an essential network fuel.

TRX’s Position in the Global Stablecoin Infrastructure

By 2025, the core of the RWA(Real-World Asset Tokenization) market will be stablecoins. At the center is USDT(Tether).

Currently, TRON hosts about 43% of the global USDT issuance. Ethereum leads with 46.5%, but the two networks effectively share the global stablecoin supply.

The total amount of USDT on TRON is approximately $80.1 billion. While it appears Ethereum is ahead numerically, in actual transfer volume and remittance activity, TRON holds a much larger advantage.

Thanks to low costs, over 75% of small and medium user transactions are processed almost free. This makes TRON the most practical choice in on-chain settlements, cross-border payments, and asset liquidity in RWA sectors.

Survival Strategy Amid Korean Regulations

Korea’s regulatory environment is tightening. Capital movement restrictions, foreign exchange controls, and stricter obligations for virtual asset service providers. These constraints have caused many global projects to retreat from the Korean market.

But TRX is different. Its demand is functional, not speculative. Practical uses like remittances, payments, and cross-border fund transfers are not directly targeted by regulations.

The network is global, and usage occurs within the Korean market. This is why major domestic exchanges continue to list TRX.

Furthermore, TRON’s decentralized governance structure(Super Representative system) disperses the “dependency on specific owners” risk that regulators are most sensitive to. This enhances TRX’s resilience in the regulatory strengthening phases of 2025–2026.

How to Trade TRX: Spot and Derivatives

TRON can be invested in various ways:

1) Spot Trading Korean major exchanges(Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone) offer KRW-based TRX trading. Trading volume is steady, so spreads are manageable. Major overseas exchanges also maintain high liquidity, ensuring fast execution.

2) DEX( Decentralized Exchanges) Platforms like SunSwap( within the Tron ecosystem allow instant trading just by connecting a wallet. Fees are minimal, and KYC is unnecessary. It offers flexible on-chain asset transfers.

3) Derivatives) Perpetual Futures( Major global exchanges offer active TRX perpetual futures contracts. In bullish markets, long positions profit; in bearish markets, short positions do. Leverage use requires careful management of liquidation rules and margin.

4) CFD) Contract for Difference( Investing based solely on price movements without holding actual TRX. It offers quick entry and convenience but can lead to rapid losses with leverage.

Current Valuation of TRX

As of January 2026:

• Price: $0.29
• 24h Change: +1.40%
• 24h Trading Volume: $1.73M
• Market Cap: approximately $27.9 billion
• Market Share: 0.84%

While volatility appears limited from the price alone, underlying real-world demand remains stable.

Conclusion: From Arbitrage Fuel to Structural Asset

The journey of TRON)TRX( is clear. Starting as a tool to capture the Kimchi Premium, it has now established itself as an essential asset in the global stablecoin payment infrastructure.

This transformation is no coincidence. Its technical advantages—fast network, low costs, high liquidity—meet the structural demands of the Korean market)capital movement restrictions, demand for won-market liquidity, and the need to connect with overseas platforms—forming an inevitable outcome.

Justin Sun’s personal branding and operator activities, the ~2% annual de-flationary tokenomics, the $80.1 billion USDT infrastructure, and the structural advantage to survive as a functional asset even amid Korean regulations—all these elements lead to a reevaluation of TRX.

Of course, risks are also clear. Dependence on a single individual, regulatory shifts in the US and China, tightening of stablecoin oversight, and growth of competing chains.

But in the current landscape, TRON is not just a coin to go up; it is an infrastructure asset that will continue to be used as long as capital flows exist in Korea and globally.

Understanding this shift from arbitrage king to a structural asset will be the starting point for a proper valuation of TRX.