A Bithumb executive stated that the company will "focus on preparing for its IPO by 2027." CFO Jeong Sang-gyun said at the company's annual shareholders' meeting that Bithumb is "strengthening its accounting policies and internal controls" following its IPO advisory contract with Samjong KPMG. Bithumb had previously planned to go public in 2025. At the shareholders' meeting, CEO Lee Jae-won was re-elected for two years. During his tenure, Bithumb was suspended from operations for six months and fined $24 million by South Korean regulators for allegedly violating anti-money laundering regulations. Meanwhile, Dunamu, the operator of another major South Korean exchange, Upbit, also plans an IPO after completing a share swap with Naver Financial, expected in September.