Bithumb has suspended issuing new virtual accounts to crypto traders starting on August 1 after failing to renew the contract with its bank. These accounts are part of the real-name system enforced by the Korean government earlier this year. Only three exchanges in the country are now reportedly able to open new virtual accounts for their customers.
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Bithumb Halts Issuing New Virtual Accounts
Crypto exchange Bithumb has announced the suspension of new virtual account issuance starting on August 1. With a 24-hour trading volume of $ 245,786,110 at the time of this writing, Bithumb currently ranks as South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, according to Coinmarketcap.
South Korea’s top financial regulator, the Financial Services Commission (FSC), has urged lawmakers to “pass the country’s first cryptocurrency bill quickly,” Bloomberg reported this week. According to the agency, “Korea urgently needs crypto laws as thefts rise,” the publication conveyed, adding that “local exchanges are rife with security flaws and money laundering risks.” 
Bithumb is currently working on obtaining regulatory approval from the Thai Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), local media reported Friday. The exchange is the second largest in South Korea at the time of this writing, with a 24-hour trading volume of about $ 358 million, behind only the Kakao-backed Upbit with a $ 582 million trading volume during the same time period. 
The Korea Blockchain Association (KBA) held a press conference Wednesday to announce the results of its inspection of cryptocurrency exchanges operating in the country. The Association “gave a nod to the cybersecurity standards of 12 cryptocurrency exchanges,” the Korea Herald reported. 
The South Korean government announced on Wednesday, June 20, that it has formally launched an investigation into the cause of the alleged security breaches at two crypto exchanges, Bithumb and Coinrail. At the time of this writing, Bithumb is the country’s second-largest crypto exchange by volume, behind only the Kakao Corp-backed Upbit, according to Coinmarketcap. Coinrail is the country’s seventh largest crypto exchange. 
South Korea’s AML directives currently do not apply to cryptocurrency exchanges directly. The government has made banks responsible for monitoring and reporting any crypto-related money laundering activities. 
The Korea Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), under the supervision of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), recently held an Anti-Money Laundering Policy Advisory Committee meeting. The meeting was set up to discuss measures against money laundering and terrorism financing activities. 
