Bithumb launches recovery campaign for $200m in dormant crypto across 2.6m inactive accounts

South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb has launched a recovery campaign to reunite customers with approximately $200 million in dormant assets spread across 2.6 million inactive accounts, some untouched for nearly 12 years.

The exchange disclosed in early January that certain forgotten holdings have generated returns exceeding 61,000%, with the largest single dormant account now worth $2.84 million—highlighting how early crypto adopters who abandoned their positions inadvertently benefited from holding through multiple market cycles.

Extraordinary gains on forgotten assets

Some of the dormant assets Bithumb flagged have appreciated dramatically since acquisition, illustrating how holding through extended market cycles can yield exponential returns, even if the owner disappeared from the space.

Bithumb reported that certain inactive holdings have achieved returns exceeding 61,000% compared with their original cost basis.

To put this into perspective

Bitcoin traded around $767 in early 2014 and has soared to roughly $87,700 in early 2026, an increase of more than 11,300% over the same period.

Alex Tan, senior analyst at Crypto Metrics Research, stated that many early retail participants simply stopped engaging after prolonged bear markets or life events, unaware that their small positions had ballooned into significant sums.

Investors should note that these dormant shelves of crypto reveal how long-term inactivity can inadvertently become deep value plays for those who managed to accumulate early and then disengage.

Yet the sheer volume of assets also raises questions about future market supply and volatility if even a fraction of these dormant holdings are suddenly moved or liquidated.

Recovery campaign and investor implications

Bithumb’s dormant asset campaign is not its first; similar efforts in previous years helped users reclaim forgotten funds.

During the exchange’s 11th anniversary campaign, around 36,000 users recovered roughly $50 million in assets.

Building on that experience, the current initiative aims to reach a much broader base of inactive users.

Under the program, Bithumb plans to notify eligible customers directly and provide support for account recovery, positioning the campaign as part of its broader user protection strategy.

From a market perspective, however, the existence of such sizable dormant balances carries broader implications:

Latent liquidity

If large tranches of previously dormant assets are reactivated and sold, they could amplify volatility — particularly in smaller cap tokens where supply impacts price more acutely.

Supply uncertainty

Dormant assets effectively represent hidden supply that isn’t reflected in regular trading volumes or circulating supply models.

Investor behavior insights

The data sheds light on how retail investor sentiment and engagement has evolved over time, highlighting early adopters who exited or abandoned crypto altogether as markets matured and cycles deepened.

Conclusion

For active traders and long-term holders, the Bithumb revelation warrants careful attention to the impact dormant supply could have on market dynamics in 2026.

Key considerations include;

Token-specific dormant volumes: Coins with disproportionate dormant holdings might experience outsized reactions if accounts reactivate.

Market liquidity signals: Sudden increases in sell pressure, particularly in altcoin markets, could signal dormant reactivation rather than new distribution.

Exchange behavior and notifications: Investors whose assets may be dormant should monitor exchange communication to avoid missing potential recovery opportunities.