Overview
- On Monday, Aug. 3, Bithumb published a three-stage roadmap that aims to finish internal-control and K‑IFRS work in 2026, file a preliminary listing review in 2027 and complete an IPO in 2028.
- The company is converting financial reporting from K‑GAAP to K‑IFRS, strengthening risk management and internal controls, spinning off Bithumb Asset to reduce conflicts and boosting liquidity reserves and public disclosures.
- A February 2026 system error that erroneously credited users with massive bitcoin amounts prompted intensified oversight, led to anti-money-laundering and privacy fines and sparked criminal probes tied to company leadership.
- Bithumb has signed an IPO advisory agreement with Samjong KPMG through the end of 2027 and is negotiating a possible stake sale with Kiwoom Securities to secure institutional support ahead of any listing.
- If regulators clear the exchange, a successful 2028 listing would force far greater public-market disclosure and governance at Bithumb and could accelerate institutional investment and tighter standards across South Korea’s crypto industry.