TLDR

  • Across 2.6 million inactive Bithumb accounts, $201.8 million worth of cryptocurrency is dormant.
  • The oldest dormant account has been inactive for 4,380 days.
  • Over the years, one user’s cryptocurrency has increased in value by 61,000%.
  • During last year’s recovery campaign, 36,000 users reclaimed $50 million.

Bithumb, a major South Korean cryptocurrency exchange, has identified over $200 million worth of dormant digital assets in 2.6 million inactive accounts. This announcement is part of its new campaign to assist users in recovering long – forgotten cryptocurrency holdings.

Millions in Dormant Crypto Found

South Korean exchange Bithumb has discovered that over 2.6 million user accounts hold dormant assets worth 291.6 billion Korean won, which is approximately $201.8 million. This data was shared as part of the company’s customer asset recovery campaign targeted at users who haven’t logged in or traded for more than a year.

The exchange stated that the oldest inactive account has had no activity for 4,380 days—nearly 12 years. The largest single dormant holding is valued at around $2.84 million. These accounts have remained untouched even as asset prices have soared through multiple cryptocurrency market cycles.

Forgotten Assets Saw Exponential Gains

According to Bithumb, some of the dormant cryptocurrencies have appreciated by over 61,000% since they were first acquired. This means that certain unclaimed assets have outperformed even Bitcoin during the same period.

As of January 1, 2014, Bitcoin was trading at around $767. As of now, Bitcoin is trading near $87,726, showing a 114 – fold increase or an 11,338% gain. In contrast, several inactive tokens on Bithumb have far exceeded those returns. These assets were likely purchased during early market cycles but later forgotten.

Bithumb noted that many of the inactive users likely joined during earlier bull runs and then became disengaged. The cryptocurrency platform stated that it will directly contact users and help them reclaim their funds, which have gone unnoticed for years.

Bithumb’s Recovery Campaign

Bithumb is running this campaign as part of its broader efforts to protect customer assets. This isn’t the first time the exchange has recovered lost or dormant holdings. During its 11th – anniversary campaign in 2025, about 36,000 users reclaimed digital assets worth nearly $50 million.

The company said that helping users retrieve their long – lost assets is a key customer care initiative. As part of this effort, Bithumb plans to send out recovery guidance and support to eligible account holders.

“Some customers may have forgotten they had accounts or lost access over the years,” a company spokesperson said. “Our goal is to assist in safely recovering those assets.”

Broader Context in the Crypto Space

The existence of over $200 million in dormant cryptocurrency reflects how retail investor activity has changed over time. Many users entered the market during periods of high interest but later stopped actively participating.

Dormant assets like these represent a pool of cryptocurrency that has been out of the market for years. If reclaimed and re – introduced, they may contribute to changes in liquidity and trading behavior.

This situation also shows the need for platforms to maintain communication with account holders over time. Bithumb said that all dormant asset recoveries are processed securely and with identity verification to ensure legitimate claims.