South Korea Investigates Bithumb Over $43B Phantom Bitcoin Payout

South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service launched a formal investigation into Bithumb’s erroneous $43 billion Bitcoin payout, which occurred on February 8 in Seoul, affecting trading volumes nationwide.

The investigation addresses security risks in centralized exchanges, impacting Bithumb’s market trust and investor confidence, as regulatory scrutiny intensifies to safeguard virtual asset integrity.

South Korea has launched an investigation into Bithumb following a $43 billion phantom Bitcoin payout on February 6, 2026.

The incident challenges market stability and investor confidence, prompting scrutiny of Bithumb’s internal controls and regulatory compliance.

South Korea Launches $43B Bitcoin Payout Probe

South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) initiated a full formal probe into Bithumb after discovering a $43 billion phantom Bitcoin payout. The issue surfaced during an on-site inspection on February 8.

The FSS expanded the probe to address Bithumb’s ledger discrepancies and internal controls. Bithumb’s CEO Lee Jae-won publicly addressed the situation, emphasizing customer trust. No official statements were found on their website.

$43B Payout Sparks Local BTC Flash Crash

The erroneous payout, equating to 620,000 phantom BTC credited to users, led to a localized BTC flash crash. Market trust was affected but recovered after Bithumb pledged compensation.

Regulatory bodies, including the Financial Services Commission, emphasize the risks to market integrity. Official steps include examining Bithumb’s compliance with the Act on the Protection of Virtual Asset Users.

Expert Opinions on Exchange Vulnerabilities

No similar incidents at Bithumb are documented, though the issue sheds light on vulnerabilities in centralized exchanges‘ internal wallet systems.

Expert opinions suggest potential legislative outcomes to enhance virtual asset market robustness, possibly limiting majority shareholder stakes and bolstering compliance norms.