Korea-based virtual asset exchange Bithumb said its operating profit for the first quarter was 2.9 billion won, down 95.8% from a year earlier.
According to the Financial Supervisory Service's electronic disclosure system on the 15th, Bithumb's first-quarter revenue was 82.5 billion won, down 57.6% from a year earlier. Net income swung to a loss of 86.9 billion won in the first quarter from 33 billion won in the first quarter last year.
Bithumb said the earnings decline was due to a sharp drop in virtual asset transaction value as investor sentiment weakened amid factors including ◇ instability in the Middle East region and ▲ pressure from rising interest rates.
A Bithumb official said, "While preparing for a market rebound, we will strengthen our fundamentals and enhance service competitiveness to establish a foundation for sustainable growth."