Bithumb review
Bithumb publishes the lowest domestic trading fee in South Korea, and whether you can use it depends on which bank you already bank with.
Every Korean exchange offering won pairs must verify customers through a real-name account at one designated partner bank. Bithumb's is KB Kookmin, Korea's largest retail bank, which in practice makes it reachable for more people than rivals tied to smaller internet banks. If you hold a KB Kookmin account, Bithumb is the path of least resistance.
At 0.04 percent it undercuts Upbit's 0.05 percent won rate, and it is registered with the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit as a Virtual Asset Service Provider, the registration that makes won trading lawful.
Bithumb has been operating since 2014 and is the long-standing number two by volume behind Upbit. Order books are deep enough that the difference rarely matters for an ordinary purchase. As across Korea, capital gains tax on crypto has been postponed rather than cancelled, so keep records regardless of what applies today.
- Founded
- 2014
- Headquarters
- Seoul, South Korea
- Fees
- 0.04 percent, the lowest published domestic rate in South Korea. Requires a real-name account at KB Kookmin Bank for won deposits.
- KYC
- Required
- Payment methods
- Local bank transfer
- Status
- Operating
How you can pay on Bithumb
Every deposit rail Bithumb supports in at least one market. Which of them you can use depends on your country; the country guides below list the exact methods per market.
- Domestic bank rail
- Local bank transfer
As published by Bithumb: Real-name KRW bank account.
Pros and cons
What works
- 0.04 percent is the lowest published trading fee of any domestic Korean exchange
- Partnered with KB Kookmin, Korea's largest retail bank, so more people already hold the required account
- KoFIU-registered, which is what permits won trading at all
- Operating since 2014 with consistently deep won order books
What to watch
- Requires a KB Kookmin real-name account specifically, so your existing bank decides your access
- Second to Upbit on liquidity, which matters only for unusually large orders
- Korean residency and a local phone number are effectively required
Fees in detail
- maker
- 0.04 percent
- taker
- 0.04 percent
- deposit note
- Won deposits require a real-name account at KB Kookmin Bank, the designated partner.
- withdrawal note
- Won withdrawals return to the linked KB Kookmin account; bitcoin withdrawals to self-custody are supported.
Where we recommend Bithumb
Countries where Bithumb ranks in our local guide. Availability beyond these is possible but unverified by us.
South KoreaFrequently asked questions
Is Bithumb cheaper than Upbit?
Yes, on the headline rate: 0.04 percent against Upbit's 0.05 percent on won markets. The difference is small, and which one you can actually use usually comes down to whether you hold a KB Kookmin or a K-Bank account.
Which bank do I need for Bithumb?
KB Kookmin Bank. Korean rules tie each exchange to a single partner bank for real-name verification, and won deposits are impossible without an account there.
Is Bithumb registered with the regulator?
Yes, with the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit as a Virtual Asset Service Provider. Only registered VASPs with a real-name banking partnership may offer Korean won trading pairs.