Upbit and Bithumb add KAT as Katana Network gains traction in Korea

• Upbit is listing KAT on its KRW, BTC and USDT markets, while Bithumb is also adding the token on its KRW market.
• The dual listing puts fresh attention on Katana Network, an Ethereum-based Layer 2 built specifically around DeFi use cases.

KAT is getting a meaningful boost in South Korea after landing listings on both Upbit and Bithumb, a combination that usually gets traders’ attention fast.

Upbit opens multiple pairs as Bithumb joins with KRW support

Upbit, the country’s largest crypto exchange, said it will list KAT across three markets: KRW, BTC and USDT. Bithumb is following with a KRW listing of its own. That gives the token immediate exposure across two of the most closely watched trading venues in the Korean market.

For newer or mid-cap assets, that kind of back-to-back exchange support can matter a lot. It is not just about adding another order book.

It often brings a jump in visibility, a sharper increase in local trading activity and, at least in the short term, a stronger speculative bid from traders who track Korean listings closely.

The structure of the listings is also worth noting. Upbit is giving KAT a broader setup from day one, with direct fiat access through KRW as well as crypto pairs against BTC and USDT.

Bithumb is taking the more straightforward route with a won-denominated market, but that still adds another major liquidity venue in one of crypto’s most active regional trading hubs.

Katana is pitching itself as a DeFi-first Layer 2

The token behind the listings belongs to Katana Network, an Ethereum-based Layer 2 focused specifically on decentralized finance.

That positioning is important because the Layer 2 market is already crowded. Simply being fast or low-cost is not enough anymore. New chains are increasingly expected to come with a more defined use case or ecosystem angle.

Katana appears to be leaning directly into DeFi as its core pitch, rather than marketing itself as a general-purpose scaling chain. In a market where liquidity, lending, perps and composability still drive much of onchain activity, that could give the project a clearer identity than some of the broader L2 plays.

With Upbit and Bithumb both bringing KAT onto their platforms, the next phase is less about the listing headline itself and more about whether the token can convert that visibility into sustained flow.