Bithumb Confirms Data Leak After Hackers Breach Internal Mobile System
South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb has confirmed a personal data leak following unauthorized access to its internal mobile system. The incident has raised concerns about cybersecurity across the country’s financial sector.
The exchange discovered the breach on October 27, 2026, and launched an investigation into the compromised information. According to reports published Wednesday, Bithumb is examining whether hackers accessed customer data alongside internal employee information.
Bithumb Investigates Internal System Breach
The cyberattack targeted Bithumb’s internal mobile groupware system, which employees use for workplace communication and information sharing. Hackers reportedly gained unauthorized access to the platform, exposing personal information stored within the system.
Bithumb reported the incident to the Korea Internet & Security Agency and the Personal Information Protection Commission after discovering the intrusion.
The exchange is assessing the extent of the data leak and identifying the information affected. Initial findings suggest employee-related information was exposed, although investigators have not ruled out customer data involvement.
Bithumb emphasized that its internal communication platform operates separately from its cryptocurrency trading infrastructure. Consequently, the company said attackers could not access customer digital assets through the compromised system.
South Korea Faces Growing Financial Cybersecurity Threats
The Bithumb security incident comes amid a broader wave of cyberattacks targeting South Korean financial institutions.
Reuters reported on October 28 that three financial companies, including Bithumb, had disclosed security breaches. The other affected institutions were Daishin Securities and Mirae Asset Global Investments.
Daishin Securities confirmed that hackers exposed personal and credit information belonging to 38,490 customers. Meanwhile, Mirae Asset Global Investments reported suspicious external access and launched an investigation into its systems.
South Korean financial authorities have intensified scrutiny of cybersecurity practices following the incidents. Earlier in October, officials identified cyberattacks affecting 16 financial companies, highlighting growing risks across the industry.
Crypto Exchange Security Remains Under Scrutiny
The breach highlights the importance of protecting internal business systems, even when they operate independently of cryptocurrency trading platforms.
Although Bithumb maintains that customer digital assets remain inaccessible through the affected system, uncertainty surrounding the leaked information remains a concern.
The exchange has yet to disclose the complete scale of the breach or confirm precisely which personal records were compromised. Investigators are continuing to assess the intrusion while authorities monitor cybersecurity risks across South Korea’s financial sector.
