Bithumb Exchange Hit with Preliminary Six-Month Transfer Suspension by South Korean FIU
South Korea's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has issued Bithumb with a preliminary notice of disciplinary action, which includes a six-month partial business suspension. The regulator alleges deficiencies in the exchange's anti-money laundering (AML) protocols, particularly regarding customer verification for transactions linked to overseas virtual asset service providers (VASPs).
The notice allows Bithumb to present its defense before final sanctions are determined. This development marks another significant regulatory challenge for South Korea's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange, coming three years after its previous $24 million fine for similar compliance failures.