Bithumb crypto exchange reportedly bans foreigners without mobile KYC

Bithumb’s stricter KYC requirements come in line with South Korea’s tightened Anti-Money Laundering regulations regarding foreign users of crypto exchanges.

South Korean crypto exchange Bithumb has reportedly announced a ban on foreigners who have not completed phone-based Know Your Customer (KYC) verification.

According to local coverage by Pulse, non-Koreans using the Bithumb crypto exchange will be subject to mandatory mobile verification. While the rule is reportedly set to be effective from this year, the exact date for the new KYC requirement is yet to be announced. Citing Bithumb’s notice, The Korean Herald reported:

“Foreigners residing in Korea who cannot process identification with mobile phones cannot use the service.”

Bithumb’s move for stricter KYC requirements comes in line with the country’s tightened Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations. A report from July 8 shows that Seoul Central Customs tracked down 33 people who completed illegal overseas crypto transactions worth $1.48 billion (1.69 trillion won).

Previously, Bithumb had imposed restrictions on accounts that signed up from “high-risk jurisdictions” as well as the accounts from countries belonging to the Financial Action Task Force’s “increased monitoring” list.

The Korean Herald also reported that Bithumb has asked the affected users to withdraw their assets if they are not able to comply “within 2021 when customer due diligence becomes mandatory.”

Bithumb did not immediately respond to Cointelegraph’s request for comment.

Related: Korean crypto exchange Bithumb toughens up its Anti-Money Laundering measures

The Korean authorities have taken a series of measures to curb illegal crypto transactions since 2020, requiring banks to strengthen the monitoring of cryptocurrency transactions.

More recently, crypto exchanges including Bithumb have introduced new measures including stronger KYC checks and trading restrictions to enforce Anti-Money Laundering efforts.

The country has already banned accounts that originated from Myanmar, Barbados, Iceland, Iran, North Korea and 15 other countries.