{"id":882413,"date":"2026-01-02T02:12:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T08:12:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/02\/bithumb-finds-over-200m-in-dormant-crypto-across-2-6m-accounts\/"},"modified":"2026-01-02T02:12:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T08:12:02","slug":"bithumb-finds-over-200m-in-dormant-crypto-across-2-6m-accounts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/02\/bithumb-finds-over-200m-in-dormant-crypto-across-2-6m-accounts\/","title":{"rendered":"Bithumb Finds Over $200M in Dormant Crypto Across 2.6M Accounts"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cimg.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/23090551\/ayan-150x150.jpg\" alt>\n                    <\/p>\n<p>Crypto Journalist<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Amin Ayan<\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cimg.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/23090551\/ayan-150x150.jpg\" alt>\n                <\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Crypto Journalist<\/p>\n<p><span>Amin Ayan<\/span><span class><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.com\/wp-content\/themes\/cryptonews\/images\/verification.svg\" alt=\"Verified\"><\/span>\n                    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Part of the Team Since<\/p>\n<p>Apr 2025<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>About Author<\/p>\n<p>Amin Ayan is a crypto journalist with over four years of experience in the industry. He has contributed to leading publications such as Cryptonews, Investing.com, 99Bitcoins, and 24\/7 Wall St. He has&#8230;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Last updated:\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-01-02T06:20:57+00:00\">January 2, 2026<\/time>\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"1200\" height=\"673\" src=\"https:\/\/cimg.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/02050053\/1767330052-image-1767330027018_optimized.jpg\" alt=\"Bithumb Finds Over $200M in Dormant Crypto Across 2.6M Accounts\" decoding=\"async\"  ><\/p>\n<p>South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb has uncovered more than $200 million in customer assets sitting idle across roughly 2.6 million accounts.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Key Takeaways:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span>Bithumb identified more than $200 million in dormant crypto spread across 2.6 million inactive accounts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>One account held $2.84 million after nearly 12 years of inactivity, highlighting early crypto adopters who never returned.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Some dormant assets posted gains exceeding 61,000%, showing how long-term inactivity amplified early-stage crypto returns.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>The disclosure came as part of a dormant asset recovery campaign aimed at users who have not logged in or traded for more than a year, <a href=\"https:\/\/financefeeds.com\/bithumb-finds-200m-in-forgotten-crypto-sitting-idle-for-over-a-decade\/\" target=\"_blank\">according to Finance Feeds<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Bithumb said inactive balances totaled about 291.6 billion Korean won, or roughly $201.8 million. Some of the accounts flagged in the review had shown no activity for more than a decade.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"h-bithumb-finds-2-84m-dormant-account-idle-for-nearly-12-years\">Bithumb Finds $2.84M Dormant Account Idle for Nearly 12 Years<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>According to the exchange, the single largest dormant balance was worth around $2.84 million.<\/p>\n<p>The longest period of inactivity stretched to 4,380 days, nearly 12 years, pointing to early market participants who entered during crypto\u2019s formative years and never returned.<\/p>\n<p>The findings offer a glimpse into the industry\u2019s early retail-driven phase, when users often bought small amounts of digital assets with little expectation of long-term value.<\/p>\n<p>Many of those accounts were abandoned as markets cooled, platforms evolved, or personal interest faded.<\/p>\n<p>In some cases, users may have assumed their holdings were insignificant, unaware that years of price appreciation had turned them into sizable sums.<\/p>\n<p>Bithumb said some dormant holdings recorded gains exceeding 61,000%, or roughly 610 times their original value.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div>\n<blockquote data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Tracing further reveals this wallet received ~93,947 BTC in 2017\u20132018, mainly from CEXs and CoinJoin, including HTX, Gemini, Bixin, Bitfinex, Bithumb, and QuadrigaCX.<br \/>The wallet remained dormant for 3 years until 2020.<br \/> With mixed sources like these and long dormancy, the funds\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/XP5mMwjkV3\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/XP5mMwjkV3<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Specter (@SpecterAnalyst) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SpecterAnalyst\/status\/1977012900360253906?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\">October 11, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>These outsized returns reflect assets acquired in the earliest stages of crypto adoption, before broader public awareness and institutional involvement.<\/p>\n<p>For comparison, Bitcoin traded at around $767 at the start of 2014. At recent prices near $87,700, that represents a gain of about 11,300%, or roughly 114 times.<\/p>\n<p>Several of the forgotten assets held on Bithumb therefore outperformed Bitcoin over a similar timeframe, underscoring how early exposure combined with long-term inactivity can yield extreme results.<\/p>\n<p>The exchange has run similar recovery efforts before. During its 11th anniversary campaign last year, Bithumb said roughly 36,000 users reclaimed dormant assets worth about $50 million.<\/p>\n<p>The current campaign is larger in scale, reflecting both the platform\u2019s age and the growth of the crypto market over time.<\/p>\n<p>Bithumb said it plans to notify eligible customers directly and assist with account recovery, positioning the initiative as part of its customer protection efforts.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond individual users, the disclosure carries broader implications for the market. Dormant balances represent latent supply that could re-enter circulation during future market cycles.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"h-upbit-moves-99-of-customer-assets-to-cold-storage-after-30m-hack\">Upbit Moves 99% of Customer Assets to Cold Storage After $30M Hack<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As reported, Upbit is <a href=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.com\/news\/upbit-moves-majority-user-funds-cold-storage-after-30m-hack\/\">shifting nearly all customer assets<\/a> into cold storage after hackers stole 44.5 billion won (about $30 million) from its Solana hot wallet, marking one of the strongest security responses yet by a major exchange.<\/p>\n<p>Operator Dunamu said the platform will raise its cold wallet ratio to 99% and reduce hot wallet exposure to effectively zero, far above South Korea\u2019s legal requirement that 80% of user funds be stored offline.<\/p>\n<p>The exchange already held 98.33% of assets in cold storage at the end of October, the highest among domestic platforms, but accelerated its overhaul following the breach.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, South Korean authorities have launched an investigation, and local reports have cited early intelligence assessments that allegedly <a href=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.com\/news\/north-koreas-lazarus-group-linked-to-30m-upbit-hack\/\">connect the intrusion to North Korea\u2019s<\/a> Lazarus Group.<\/p>\n<p>\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKQgKIiNDQklTRkFnTWFoQUtEbU55ZVhCMGIyNWxkM011WTI5dEtBQVAB?ceid=US:en&#038;oc=3\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>                            <svg width=\"20\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 16\" fill=\"none\">\n                            <path d=\"M19.6 5.36C19.6 5.48 19.6 5.66 19.54 5.78L17.2 12.8V5.6C17.2 4.94 16.66 4.4 16 4.4H12.82L12.52 3.8L11.86 2.36L15.34 3.32L18.58 4.16C19.18 4.28 19.6 4.82 19.6 5.36Z\" fill=\"#FF4131\" \/>\n                            <path d=\"M15.4 0.799997V3.26L11.92 2.3L11.74 1.88C11.44 1.28 10.72 0.979997 10.12 1.22L4.59998 3.38V0.799997C4.59998 0.499997 4.89998 0.199997 5.19998 0.199997H14.8C15.1 0.199997 15.4 0.499997 15.4 0.799997Z\" fill=\"#03A846\" \/>\n                            <path d=\"M12.82 4.4H4.00002C3.34002 4.4 2.80002 4.94 2.80002 5.6V11.42L0.520024 6.5C0.460024 6.26 0.400024 6.08 0.400024 5.9V5.84C0.400024 5.3 0.700024 4.82 1.24002 4.64L4.60002 3.32L10.06 1.22C10.72 0.979997 11.44 1.28 11.68 1.88L11.86 2.3L12.52 3.74L12.82 4.4Z\" fill=\"#FDBD04\" \/>\n                            <path d=\"M17.2 5.59999V14.6C17.2 15.26 16.66 15.8 16 15.8H4.00005C3.34005 15.8 2.80005 15.26 2.80005 14.6V5.59999C2.80005 4.93999 3.34005 4.39999 4.00005 4.39999H16C16.66 4.39999 17.2 4.93999 17.2 5.59999ZM9.40005 9.79999H7.00005V11H7.90005C7.60005 11.36 7.18005 11.6 6.70005 11.6C5.86005 11.6 5.20005 10.94 5.20005 10.1C5.20005 9.25999 5.86005 8.59999 6.70005 8.59999C7.12005 8.59999 7.48005 8.77999 7.78005 9.01999L8.62005 8.17999C8.14005 7.69999 7.48005 7.39999 6.70005 7.39999C5.20005 7.39999 4.00005 8.59999 4.00005 10.1C4.00005 11.6 5.20005 12.8 6.70005 12.8C7.90005 12.8 8.86005 12.08 9.22005 11C9.34005 10.7 9.40005 10.4 9.40005 10.1C9.40005 9.97999 9.40005 9.91999 9.40005 9.79999ZM14.8 7.39999H10.6V8.59999H14.8V7.39999ZM16 9.79999H10.6V11H16V9.79999ZM14.8 12.2H10.6V13.4H14.8V12.2Z\" fill=\"#0284FE\" \/>\n                            <\/svg><br \/>\n                                                                    Follow us on Google News                                    <\/a>\n                                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.com\/news\/bithumb-finds-over-200m-in-dormant-crypto-across-2-6m-accounts\/\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><br \/>\n Johnathon Badon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Crypto Journalist Amin Ayan Crypto Journalist Amin Ayan Part of the Team Since Apr 2025 About Author Amin Ayan is a crypto journalist with over four years of experience in the industry. He has contributed to leading publications such as Cryptonews, Investing.com, 99Bitcoins, and 24\/7 Wall St. He has&#8230; Last updated:\u00a0 January 2, 2026 South<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":882414,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22588,2915],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-882413","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bithumb","8":"category-finds"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/882413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=882413"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/882413\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/882414"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=882413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=882413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=882413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}