Bithumb Exchange Discovers $200M in Dormant Crypto Assets, Highlighting Early Adopter Windfalls
South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb has identified over $200 million in idle customer assets spread across approximately 2.6 million inactive accounts. The discovery was made as part of a dormant asset recovery campaign targeting users who have not logged in or traded for more than a year.
One notable account held $2.84 million after nearly 12 years of inactivity, underscoring how early adopters often left their holdings untouched. Some of these dormant assets saw gains exceeding 61,000%, demonstrating how long-term inactivity amplified returns from crypto's early bull markets.
The findings provide a snapshot of the industry's retail-driven infancy, when users frequently acquired small amounts of digital assets without anticipating their future value. Many accounts were abandoned as market cycles turned, leaving substantial sums forgotten—a powerful reminder of the long-term potential in holding quality crypto assets.