Bithumb Exchange’s $130M Bitcoin Blunder Triggers Temporary Market Turbulence
A clerical error at South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb caused localized bitcoin price volatility when an employee accidentally distributed 2,000 BTC ($130 million) to users instead of small KRW-denominated airdrops. The mistaken transfer briefly crashed Bitcoin's price by 10% on Bithumb's order books, though global markets remained stable.
Some recipients reported receiving life-changing sums - with accounts credited 2,000 BTC rather than the intended 2,000 won ($1.50). The incident highlights how human errors in crypto operations can create artificial market movements, even if temporary. Bithumb representatives confirmed they are actively working to recover the funds.