South Korea crypto exchange Bithumb hit with suspension, CEO faces disciplinary action: report

South Korea's Financial Intelligence Unit has sent the cryptocurrency exchange a notice of a six-month, partial suspension for violating anti-money laundering obligations, according to a local report published Monday.

The company's CEO faces disciplinary action, also according to the report. Bithumb is one of South Korea's largest cryptocurrency exchanges.

The move comes almost exactly a month after South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service launched a full-scale investigation into Bithumb after the exchange mistakenly sent 620,000 BTC to hundreds of users, exposing weaknesses in its internal controls and risk management.

Bithumb's "dealings with unreported overseas virtual asset operators and its neglect of customer due diligence" has run afoul of local regulations, Monday's report said.

The Financial Intelligence Unit's temporary sanctions against Bithumb restrict transfers for new users only. "The financial authorities plan to convene a sanctions review committee this month to decide on the final level of sanctions against Bithumb," the report said.

"This measure is not a final sanction, but rather a preliminary notice, and there may be some adjustments during the sanctions review," a Bithumb spokesperson said, according to the report.

In 2025, two other South Korean exchanges, Upbit and Korbit, also faced fines.