Bithumb (Founded in 2014) is a South Korean cryptocurrency exchange. It offers a wide range of services including spot trading, automated trading, staking, and crypto-based payment solutions.^[5]​^[1]​

Overview

As of 2026, Bithumb is operated by Bithumb Corp. under CEO Lee Jae-won.^[5] Bithumb positions itself as a leading exchange in Korea, citing data for new user sign-ups in 2024 and customer reputation research from 2025.^[5] The exchange offers a mobile application and operates an in-person customer service center in Seoul, the "Bithumb Lounge."^[5]​

Bithumb Market Index (BTMI) is an index that provides an overall view of the price changes in the virtual asset market. It is calculated based on all virtual assets listed in the Bithumb Exchange. Calculations are made based on the daily trade volume and real-time prices of virtual assets. The market-cap-weighted method is applied to calculate and announce in real-time.

Bithumb Global was founded in May 2019. It is an international cryptocurrency exchange based in South Korea and registered in Seychelles. Bithumb Global has grown quickly, with a reported $100M in trading activity on a daily basis. In terms of privacy, Bithumb doesn't provide any anonymity due to the South Korean government's requirement to require identity verification for cryptocurrency trading.

History

Bithumb was founded in 2014 in Seoul, South Korea.^[1]

Throughout its history, the exchange has faced significant security incidents and regulatory scrutiny, alongside corporate developments.

In October 2018, BK Global Consortium signed a deal to purchase a majority share of BTC Holding Co., Bithumb's largest investor, though the deal ultimately did not close.^[6]​^[2] In response to declining trading volume and profits in 2018, 30 out of 340 total employees at Bithumb were laid off. The company announced a net loss of KRW205.5 billion (US$180 million) for 2018, a sharp turnaround from its profit in 2017.^[4]​

On January 22, 2019, OTC-listed holding company Blockchain Industries agreed to sign a binding letter of intent to partner with Bithumb to form a new publicly traded entity called the Blockchain Exchange Alliance (BXA). The objective was to make BXA the first major cryptocurrency exchange to go public on a U.S. stock exchange. This plan did not materialize and led to subsequent legal issues.

In September 2020, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency raided Bithumb's offices as part of a fraud investigation related to the BXA token. Bithumb's former chairman, Lee Jung-hoon, was acquitted of fraud charges in January 2023, though prosecutors later appealed the verdict.^[7] In February 2023, Kang Jong-hyun, reported to be the de facto owner of the exchange, was arrested on charges of embezzlement and stock market manipulation.^[7]​

Security Incidents and Controversies

• June 2017: Hackers stole user information and funds from a Bithumb employee's personal computer, affecting over 30,000 users.
• January 2018: Bithumb was raided by tax authorities for alleged tax evasion. The company was found not guilty but was ordered to pay nearly $28 million in back taxes.
• June 2018: About $32 million worth of cryptocurrency was stolen from Bithumb by hackers from its hot wallet. The exchange suspended services and compensated affected users.^[6]
• March 2019: The exchange reported another security incident, with over $10 million worth of EOS and Ripple (XRP) tokens stolen. Bithumb stated the incident was likely the work of insiders.

February 2026 Erroneous Payout

On February 6, 2026, Bithumb experienced a major operational failure during a promotional event. The exchange accidentally distributed approximately 620,000 Bitcoin, valued at over 1.37).^[8]​

Bithumb responded within 35 minutes by restricting trading and withdrawals for the affected accounts. The company stated the event was an internal error and not a security breach. By the next day, CEO Lee Jae-won issued a public apology, confirming that 99.7% of the mistakenly sent funds had been recovered. Following the incident, South Korea's Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) launched a review. As a gesture of goodwill, Bithumb announced it would waive trading fees for a period and compensate users who were online during the glitch.^[8]​

Security

Bithumb implements multiple security measures and complies with regulatory requirements. All user accounts must undergo identity verification, and anonymous accounts are not permitted.^[3]​

The exchange holds several security and management certifications. Its Information Security Management System & Personal Information (ISMS-P) certification was renewed with validity from December 18, 2025, to December 17, 2028. Bithumb also maintains multiple ISO/IEC certifications, including:

• ISO/IEC 27001 (Information Security Management)
• ISO/IEC 27701 (Privacy Information Management)
• ISO/IEC 22301 (Business Continuity Management)
• ISO/IEC 27017 (Cloud Security)
• ISO/IEC 27018 (Public Cloud PII Protection)^[5]

Services

As of 2026, Bithumb provides a comprehensive suite of digital asset services for both retail and corporate clients.^[5]​

Trading

The platform offers spot trading in South Korean Won (KRW) and BTC markets. To assist users, assets are categorized by themes such as Layer 1, AI, DePIN, and DeFi. Bithumb also provides an auto-trading service with automated strategies and bots, including an arbitrage bot.^[5]​

Yield and Rewards

Bithumb offers several services for users to earn returns on their crypto assets:

• Staking: Users can earn interest on supported Proof-of-Stake (PoS) and Delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS) cryptocurrencies.
• Lending Plus: A service that allows users to lend their digital assets to earn returns.
• Membership Program: A tiered rewards program for active users and high-volume traders, including a VIP Matching Program.^[5]

Payments and Other Services

• Bithumb Cash: This feature converts a member's total assets into a KRW value that can be used for payments and transfers. The service facilitates payments at partner businesses, including e-commerce sites and physical stores, using QR codes or barcodes via the Bithumb mobile application.
• Bithumb Lounge: An offline, physical customer service center located in Gangnam, Seoul, for in-person support and consultation.
• Bithumb BIZ: A dedicated service portal for corporate clients.
• Open API: An API for developers to integrate with the Bithumb platform for automated trading and other functions.^[5]