Korea's Largest Bitcoin Exchange Sells Stake in $350 Million Deal

Bithumb, the largest crypto exchange in South Korea by trading volume, just confirmed it has sold over 38 percent of its shares for $350 million.

AccessTimeIconOct 12, 2018 at 3:23 a.m. UTC
Updated Aug 18, 2021 at 10:02 p.m. UTC

Presented By Icon

Election 2024 coverage presented by

Stand with crypto

Bithumb, currently the largest cryptocurrency exchange in South Korea by trading volume, just confirmed it has sold more than 38 percent of its total ownership to a blockchain consortium based in Singapore, for 400 billion won, or $350 million.

As reported by CoinDesk Korea, Bithumb confirmed the deal was signed on Oct. 11 with BK Global Consortium, a blockchain investment firm formed by BK Global, a plastic surgery medical group in Singapore.

  • Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. Will Become 'a Lot More Decentralized': Core Scientific CEO
    13:18
    Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. Will Become 'a Lot More Decentralized': Core Scientific CEO
  • Binance to Discontinue Its Nigerian Naira Services After Government Scrutiny
    05:10
    Binance to Discontinue Its Nigerian Naira Services After Government Scrutiny
  • The first video of the year 2024
    04:07
    The first video of the year 2024
  • The last regression video of the year 3.67.0
    40:07
    The last regression video of the year 3.67.0
  • BTC Holdings Company, which currently owns 76 percent of Bithumb's equity, has agreed to sell 50 percent + 1 shares of that 76 percent ownership to BK Group – a move that would make the latter the biggest controller of Bithumb when the transaction is complete.

    The report added that the acquisition deal valued Bithumb at more than 1 trillion won, or around $880 million. Subsequently, Kim Byung Gun, a plastic surgeon and also the chairman of BK Group, will be the largest shareholder of Bithumb.

    Based on the report, Kim is also an early cryptocurrency investor, who founded an initial coin offering (ICO) consulting firm and ICO platform in Singapore last August.

    The news comes just months after several of Bithumb's shareholders revealed the crypto exchange's financial numbers, showing it made net profits of about $35 million in the first half of this year, despite a rough June for the firm after a $40 million hack.

    Following a rough Q3 as the firm suspended new account openings due to a bank contract issue – which led to a significant drop in trading volume – Bithumb has seen $1.1 billion in activity over the last 24 hours, based on data from CoinMarketCap.

    Bithumb image via Shutterstock

    Disclosure

    Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information have been updated.

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk has adopted a set of principles aimed at ensuring the integrity, editorial independence and freedom from bias of its publications. CoinDesk is part of the Bullish group, which owns and invests in digital asset businesses and digital assets. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive Bullish group equity-based compensation. Bullish was incubated by technology investor Block.one.


    Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.