- South Korea fined Bithumb $136,000 for unauthorized abroad person information transfers.
- Regulators discovered person data was shared overseas with out correct consent procedures.
- New blockchain privateness pointers improve compliance obligations for crypto companies.
South Korean regulators have fined cryptocurrency trade Bithumb for transferring person data abroad with out acquiring correct consent. The penalty displays rising regulatory scrutiny of knowledge privateness practices inside the digital asset business as authorities strengthen compliance necessities for crypto platforms.
Regulator Finds Unauthorized Abroad Information Transfers
South Korea’s Private Info Safety Fee (PIPC) imposed a high-quality of 210 million gained, equal to roughly $136,000, on Bithumb. The regulator additionally issued a corrective order requiring the trade to adjust to authorized necessities governing cross-border private information transfers.
The investigation started after issues emerged throughout a 2025 parliamentary audit concerning Bithumb’s order e book sharing preparations. Authorities examined whether or not person data was transferred abroad in accordance with the nation’s Private Info Safety Act.
Bithumb has been fined roughly $136,$000 by South Korean regulators for sharing person information internationally with out consent. This highlights rising scrutiny of crypto exchanges concerning information privateness and compliance #SouthKorea pic.twitter.com/CIPTAzqRgW
— John Morgan (@johnmorganFL) June 25, 2026
In accordance with the PIPC, Bithumb shared order e book information associated to its Tether (USDT) buying and selling market with abroad exchanges between September and November 2025. Throughout that interval, customers consented to transfers involving one trade.
Nevertheless, regulators discovered that member identification numbers and order data had been transferred to a system operated by one other trade, BingX.
The fee concluded that the switch occurred with out acquiring separate consent from affected customers. Consequently, it decided that Bithumb didn’t fulfill authorized necessities for abroad information transfers.
Regulators additionally reviewed digital asset transfers involving 13 international exchanges. Throughout these transactions, Bithumb reportedly offered private data, together with names, pockets addresses, and, in a single case, dates of start, for anti-money laundering functions.
New Privateness Guidelines Improve Compliance Strain
The PIPC acknowledged that non-public data could also be required to assist anti-money laundering procedures. Nevertheless, the fee said that abroad transfers stay carefully linked to customers’ rights over their private information.
Consequently, authorities emphasised that crypto exchanges should comply with strict consent and disclosure necessities earlier than transmitting data throughout borders. The regulator ordered Bithumb to enhance its switch procedures and clearly disclose related practices inside its privateness coverage.
Alongside the enforcement motion, the fee launched new Blockchain Service Privateness Safety Tips. The framework addresses privateness dangers related to blockchain expertise, together with transparency, decentralization, and the issue of modifying recorded information.
The rules encourage firms to contemplate privateness protections throughout product growth and to attenuate publicity of identifiable data on blockchain networks. In addition they advocate stronger controls for data sharing and information administration.
The most recent motion highlights South Korea’s increasing oversight of cryptocurrency companies. As regulatory expectations improve, exchanges working internationally could face better scrutiny concerning each monetary compliance and private information safety.