South Korean exchange Bithumb has identified over $200 million in dormant customer assets across 2.6 million inactive accounts.
The disclosure came as part of the exchange's annual dormant asset recovery campaign.
The assets total approximately 291.6 billion Korean won, or about $201.8 million.
Some balances have remained untouched for over a decade.
What Happened
Bithumb's campaign targets users who have not logged in or traded for over a year.
The exchange identified the largest single dormant holding at approximately $2.84 million.
The longest period of inactivity stretched to 4,380 days, or nearly 12 years.
Some inactive assets have posted returns exceeding 61,000%, reflecting holdings acquired during cryptocurrency's earliest cycles.
Bitcoin (BTC) traded at approximately $767 on January 1, 2014.
At current prices around $87,726, BTC has gained approximately 11,338% over 12 years, or a 114-fold increase.
The dormant cryptocurrency holdings significantly outperformed Bitcoin's gains over the same period.
In last year's 11th anniversary campaign, approximately 36,000 users claimed dormant assets worth about $50 million.
The exchange plans to notify eligible customers directly and provide assistance with account recovery.
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Why It Matters
The figure highlights how millions of retail users entered cryptocurrency markets during earlier bull cycles but later disengaged.
Dormant balances represent unrealized liquidity and latent supply that could re-enter markets.
Bithumb framed the campaign as part of customer-protection efforts to help users reclaim forgotten assets.
The disclosure raises questions about how exchanges communicate with inactive customers and safeguard long-forgotten funds.
South Korea maintains an estimated 18 million cryptocurrency users.
Daily cryptocurrency trading volumes in the country frequently exceed equity market volumes.
The dormant assets represent a significant portion of early retail capital that remains untouched on centralized platforms.
Bithumb is preparing for a domestic IPO following a 560% profit surge in 2024.
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