Bithumb Reports Security Breach Affecting Internal Systems
On Wednesday, Bithumb, the second-largest cryptocurrency exchange in South Korea, confirmed a significant security breach involving its internal mobile system. This incident has raised concerns about the safety of personal information of its employees and potentially its users.
Details of the Breach
The intrusion was first detected on Tuesday. Following the discovery, Bithumb promptly alerted the Korea Internet & Security Agency as well as the Personal Information Protection Commission, as reported by local media outlets.
Bithumb stated, “We are analyzing the exact scope, including the possibility of member information being involved.” This indicates an ongoing investigation to determine the full impact of the breach.
Impact on Customer Assets
Fortunately, Bithumb confirmed that no cryptocurrency funds were lost as a result of this incident. The exchange emphasized that the breached system operates independently from its trading platform, thereby protecting customer virtual assets from being accessed through this breach.
As of the latest updates, it remains unclear whether deposits or withdrawals have been affected or the specific number of individuals whose data may have been exposed.
Context and Reactions
This isn’t the first recent incident affecting South Korean financial institutions. The Financial Supervisory Service is currently assessing three firms, among them Daishin Securities, which reported a leak of personal and credit information affecting 38,490 customers due to an outside attack. Meanwhile, Mirae Asset Global Investments successfully thwarted abnormal access attempts to its web systems and noted that investor information was not compromised.
