Korean crypto exchange Bithumb toughens up its Anti-Money Laundering measures

The operator of South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb has placed restrictions on trading accounts registered in jurisdictions that are deemed to be too lax in curbing money laundering.

South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb is toughening its approach to Anti-Money Laundering enforcement with a series of new measures that include trading restrictions, stronger Know Your Customer checks, and specialized blockchain intelligence solutions.

The popular exchange, which has an estimated average of 1 million daily users and a daily transaction volume worth 5–7 billion ($4.4–6.2 million), had a troubled 2020 beset by police investigations over allegations of fraud.  

After a series of reported negotiations with various firms for a potential acquisition, major gaming conglomerate Nexon denied it was planning to acquire Bithumb earlier this year. The Korean Herald today cites fresh rumors that JPMorgan and CME Group may now be considering a purchase of majority shares in the exchange.

A local commentator cited by the Herald suggests that Bithumb's chairman, Lee Jeong-hoon, may be biding time until the exchange's corporate value “reaches 1 trillion won at least” — a figure similar to the reported value of another top Korean platform, Upbit.

Bithumb's new, toughened Anti-Money Laundering regime includes placing restrictions on accounts registered in countries that are on the Financial Action Task Force's “increased monitoring” list for failing to implement measures to combat financial crime, as well as those labeled “high-risk jurisdictions.”

Countries on the former list include Myanmar, Barbados, Iceland and 15 others, with the latter list limited to two: Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. All existing accounts in these regions will be frozen and new accounts banned.

In addition, Bithumb is partnering with Octa Solution to implement its Anti-Money Laundering tools for crypto assets, as well as using solutions developed by Chainalysis and Dow Jones Risk & Compliance.

In other domestic cryptocurrency news, South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance has recently announced its plans to implement a 20% tax on Bitcoin (BTC) and cryptocurrency profits starting Jan. 1, 2022. As of March, an expected revision to the country's Specific Financial Transactions Act will also see crypto exchanges fall under new regulatory obligations, including AML requirements.