Bitkub

Bitkub is a Thailand-based cryptocurrency exchange, operated by Bitkub Online Co., Ltd. (Thai: บริษัทบิทคับ ออนไลน์ จำกัด) under its parent group Bitkub Capital Group Holdings (Bitkub Capital Co., Ltd.). It was founded in 2018 by Jirayut Srupsrisopa, and was among the first exchanges to receive a digital asset license from the country's Securities and Exchange Commission, in 2019. It claims to be the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the country, with a share of 90% of crypto transactions based on 2021 data from regulated exchanges. In November 2021, SCB announced that it would acquire a 51-percent stake in the company for 17.85 billion baht (US$537 million), valuing the company at over $1 billion and making it one of Thailand's first unicorn start-up companies. However, on 25th August 2022, the deal was cancelled. The SCB stated that the reason for cancellation was due to Bitkub's ongoing lawsuit with Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission for the alleged involvement in wash and inside trading.

Bitkub
TypePrivate
IndustryBitcoin
Technology
Cryptocurrency
Blockchain
Founded2 February 2018 (2018-02-02)
FounderJirayut Srupsrisopa and others
Headquarters
Bangkok, Thailand
Number of employees
500+
Websitehttps://www.bitkub.com/

History

Jirayut Srupsrisopa, the main co-founder of Bitkub and CEO of Bitkub Capital, was one of Thailand's first tech entrepreneurs to enter the cryptocurrency business. He had previously co-founded the Bitcoin wallet operator Coins.co.th (a partner of Philippines-based Coins.ph, which was acquired by Go-Jek in 2019[1]), before leaving to raise funding for Bitkub, which was founded in February 2018 with a registered capital of 50 million baht, backed mainly by mobile operator DTAC. By the end of the year, it had become Thailand's second-largest digital currency exchange, after BX.in.th.[2][3] It was one of the first four exchanges to receive operating licences from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in January 2019, when the Ministry of Finance began regulating digital asset services.[4]

The company reported rapid growth in revenue, from 3 million baht in 2018 to 30 million and 300 million over the next two years,[2] and 3.28 billion during the first three quarters of 2021.[5] It benefited from the abrupt closure of BX.in.th in 2019,[6] and the rush into cryptocurrency trading as the price of Bitcoin surged from late 2020, but the spike in activity overwhelmed its systems, causing multiple crashes in January 2021, prompting the exchange to temporary shutdown; the SEC ordered rectification of the issues.[7] The SEC also ordered a suspension of new user registration until the company could demonstrate the resilience of its systems, which was lifted in April.[8][9] In May, the company introduced its own cryptocurrency, Bitkub Coin (KUB).[10]

In November 2021, Siam Commercial Bank Group announced an acquisition deal in which it would (pending regulatory approval) acquire a 51-percent stake in Bitkub Online for 17.85 billion baht ($535 million), placing its total valuation at over $1 billion and making it one of Thailand's first unicorn start-up companies.[5][11] This deal was later scrapped in August 2022, with Siam Commcercial Bank Group abandoning this due to unresolved regulatory issues.[12]

The company has announced plans for international expansion in Southeast Asia.[13]

In December 2021, Bitkub was fined a total of 3.9 million baht for eight infractions including system outages and disruptions, violating trading rules, insufficient customer support, insufficient market surveillance, improper customer asset storage, and improper compliance system.[14][15]

References
  1. Russell, John (18 January 2019). "Go-Jek buys fintech startup Coins.ph for $72M ahead of Philippines expansion". TechCrunch. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  2. "From troublemaker to Thailand's first fintech unicorn – tracking Jirayut Srupsrisopa's crypto journey". Thai PBS World. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  3. Polkuamdee, Nuntawun (8 December 2018). "For 'Topp', no use resisting the urge to coin money". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  4. Russell, John (9 January 2019). "Thailand issues its first licenses to 4 crypto exchanges". TechCrunch. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  5. Nguyen, Anuchit (3 November 2021). "Crypto Exchange Becomes Unicorn, Coin Surges 200% After Banking Giant Buys Stake". Bloomberg. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  6. Polkuamdee, Nuntawun (26 November 2019). "SEC asked to shut out large foreign entrants". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  7. Polkuamdee, Nuntawun; Chudasri, Darana (20 January 2021). "Bitkub told to fix platform issues". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  8. Polkuamdee, Nuntawun (5 February 2021). "SEC bars Bitkub from registering new clients". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  9. Chudasri, Darana (22 April 2021). "April sees surge in retail cryptocurrency traders". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  10. Chudasri, Darana (21 May 2021). "Bitkub Coin debuts on exchange in stable trade". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  11. "Thai Siam Commercial Bank makes $537 mln acquisition in digital asset exchange Bitkub". Reuters. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  12. Polkuamdee, Nuntawun; Wiriyapong, Nareerat (26 August 2022). "SCB X scraps Bitkub investment plan". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  13. "Bitkub plots expansion in bid to be Asia's Coinbase". Bangkok Post. Bloomberg. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  14. "ก.ล.ต. สั่งปรับ"บิทาซซ่า-บิทคับ-สตางค์"". Krungthep Turakij (in Thai). 24 December 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  15. "Digital asset firms hit with huge fines for insecure transactions, deposits". 24 December 2021.
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