Crypto Exchange Bithumb Raided in South Korean Price Manipulation Probe: Report

South Korean prosecutors are investigating transactions related to a specific person or entity moving the price of a coin to make a profit, and said they will also examine relevant transactions on other exchanges.

AccessTimeIconJan 27, 2023 at 10:27 a.m. UTC
Updated May 9, 2023 at 4:06 a.m. UTC

The offices of Bithumb were raided on Thursday as part of an investigation into price manipulation of a coin listed on the South Korean crypto exchange, Yonhap reported. The coin involved wasn't identified.

Prosecutors are investigating transactions related to a specific person or entity moving the price of the coin to make a profit, they said. They plan to examine transaction details at other exchanges where the coin is listed, according to the report.

  • Breaking Down Bitcoin's Selling Pressure
    01:11
    Breaking Down Bitcoin's Selling Pressure
  • Nansen CEO Reveals Top Crypto Projects to Watch
    28:01
    Nansen CEO Reveals Top Crypto Projects to Watch
  • How Lower Interest Rate Could Impact the On-Chain Ecosystem
    00:51
    How Lower Interest Rate Could Impact the On-Chain Ecosystem
  • OpenSea Receives 'Wells Notice' From SEC; Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Indicted on 'Complicity'
    02:04
    OpenSea Receives 'Wells Notice' From SEC; Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Indicted on 'Complicity'
  • "This is a search and seizure to secure the transaction details of a specific coin, and it has nothing to do with Bithumb," an official for the Seoul Southern District Prosecutor’s Office said.

    The raid took place at a time when Bithumb is also being probed by South Korea's tax authorities, who are investigating tax evasion via domestic and international transactions on the exchange and its affiliates.

    In a separate probe, local news outlets reported this week that Bithumb Chairman Kang Jong-Hyun and two other executives were charged with embezzlement, breach of trust and fraudulent illegal transactions. Kang is alleged to have stolen company money and conspired to manipulate stock prices.

    Bithumb is one of only five Korean crypto exchanges following a 2021 crackdown in which approximately 70 domestic exchanges closed after failing to meet regulatory requirements.

    The exchange did not immediately respond to CoinDesk's request for further comment.




    Disclosure

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

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.

    Jamie Crawley

    Jamie Crawley is a CoinDesk news reporter based in London.