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BitcoinWorld Bithumb FLOW Suspension: Essential Guide to the Crucial Mainnet Upgrade on January 29 In a significant operational update from Seoul, South Korea,BitcoinWorld Bithumb FLOW Suspension: Essential Guide to the Crucial Mainnet Upgrade on January 29 In a significant operational update from Seoul, South Korea,

Bithumb FLOW Suspension: Essential Guide to the Crucial Mainnet Upgrade on January 29

Author: bitcoinworld

Source: bitcoinworld

2026/01/29 18:30

6 min read

Bithumb exchange suspends FLOW for a crucial blockchain mainnet upgrade in January 2025.

BitcoinWorld

Bithumb FLOW Suspension: Essential Guide to the Crucial Mainnet Upgrade on January 29

In a significant operational update from Seoul, South Korea, on January 28, 2025, the prominent cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb announced a temporary suspension of all FLOW deposit and withdrawal services. This planned Bithumb FLOW suspension will commence precisely at 11:00 a.m. UTC on January 29 to facilitate a critical mainnet upgrade for the Flow blockchain. Consequently, this move highlights the ongoing evolution of blockchain infrastructure and its direct impact on user accessibility.

Understanding the Bithumb FLOW Suspension Announcement

Bithumb’s official notification provides clear details for its user base. The exchange will temporarily halt all deposit and withdrawal functions for the FLOW token. This action supports the underlying Flow blockchain’s scheduled network enhancement. Importantly, trading of FLOW tokens on Bithumb’s spot markets will remain fully operational during this period. Users can still buy, sell, and hold FLOW in their exchange wallets. The suspension specifically affects the movement of tokens onto and off of the Bithumb platform. This is a standard procedure for exchanges during major network upgrades to ensure transaction integrity and user fund security.

The Driving Force: Flow Blockchain’s Mainnet Upgrade

The core reason for this service pause is a scheduled mainnet upgrade for the Flow blockchain. Mainnet upgrades are essential software improvements deployed on a live blockchain network. They often introduce new features, enhance security protocols, improve scalability, and fix known bugs. For the Flow network, which is designed for next-generation applications, games, and digital assets, such upgrades are vital for maintaining performance and competitiveness. Exchanges like Bithumb must synchronize their systems with the upgraded blockchain. This synchronization process requires a temporary pause in external transaction processing to prevent errors or fund loss.

Historical Context of Exchange Maintenance for Upgrades

This is not an isolated incident in the cryptocurrency sector. Major exchanges globally routinely implement similar temporary suspensions. For instance, Coinbase and Binance have historically paused services for assets like Ethereum during its landmark “Merge” upgrade or for Bitcoin during Taproot activation. These precedents establish a clear industry standard. The primary goal is always user protection and network stability. By halting deposits and withdrawals, exchanges eliminate the risk of transactions being sent to an old, incompatible chain version, which could result in permanent loss of funds.

Immediate Impact and Action Steps for Bithumb Users

The announcement has direct implications for Bithumb customers holding or transacting FLOW. Users should note the following critical actions and timelines:

Deposit Cut-off: All FLOW deposits must be fully confirmed on the blockchain before 11:00 a.m. UTC on January 29. Deposits initiated after this time may not be credited.
Withdrawal Planning: Users needing to withdraw FLOW to external wallets must complete transactions well in advance of the deadline.
Trading Continuity: All spot trading pairs for FLOW, such as FLOW/KRW and FLOW/BTC, will continue without interruption.
Wallet Safety: Funds held in Bithumb wallets remain secure and unaffected; only the transfer functions are temporarily disabled.

Bithumb has not specified an exact duration for the suspension. Typically, such maintenance windows last from a few hours to a full day, depending on the upgrade’s complexity. Users should monitor Bithumb’s official announcements page for the resumption notice.

Broader Implications for the Flow Ecosystem and Market

This upgrade signifies ongoing development within the Flow ecosystem. Created by Dapper Labs, Flow is a blockchain known for supporting popular NFT projects and consumer applications. Regular mainnet upgrades are a positive indicator of a living, evolving network. They demonstrate developer commitment and project longevity. From a market perspective, temporary exchange suspensions can sometimes cause minor liquidity shifts. However, because trading remains active, significant price volatility directly attributable to the maintenance is generally limited. The long-term effect is typically neutral or positive, reflecting improved network utility.

Comparison of Recent Crypto Exchange Mainnet Upgrade Suspensions

Exchange	Asset	Upgrade Reason	Suspension Duration
Bithumb	FLOW	Flow Mainnet Upgrade	To be announced (TBA)
Coinbase	ETH	Ethereum Dencun Upgrade	~2 hours
Binance	ADA	Cardano Vasil Hard Fork	~8 hours
Kraken	SOL	Solana Mainnet-Beta Upgrade	~4 hours

Conclusion

The temporary Bithumb FLOW suspension for the January 29 mainnet upgrade is a procedural and protective measure standard within the cryptocurrency industry. It underscores the necessary interplay between centralized exchanges and decentralized blockchain networks during periods of core protocol improvement. For users, it requires simple advance planning for transfers but does not affect trading or wallet security. This event ultimately points to the maturation and continuous development of the Flow blockchain, aiming to deliver a more robust and feature-rich platform for its community and applications. Observers and participants should view such operational pauses as a sign of healthy, forward-moving infrastructure maintenance.

FAQs

Q1: Can I still trade FLOW on Bithumb during the suspension?
A1: Yes, absolutely. The suspension only affects deposits and withdrawals. All spot trading for FLOW will continue normally on the Bithumb exchange.

Q2: How long will the FLOW deposit and withdrawal suspension last?
A2: Bithumb has not announced a specific end time. The duration depends on the mainnet upgrade’s completion. Similar suspensions typically last a few hours to one day. Users should check Bithumb’s official announcements for the resumption notice.

Q3: Is my FLOW safe on Bithumb during this time?
A3: Yes, your funds are secure. The suspension is a preventive measure to protect transactions during the network upgrade. Assets held in your Bithumb wallet are not at risk.

Q4: What happens if I send FLOW to my Bithumb deposit address during the suspension?
A4: Transactions sent after the suspension begins will not be processed by Bithumb’s systems and could be lost. It is crucial to ensure all deposits are fully confirmed on the blockchain before the 11:00 a.m. UTC deadline on January 29.

Q5: Why do exchanges need to suspend services for a blockchain upgrade?
A5: Exchanges suspend services to synchronize their internal systems with the new blockchain protocol. This prevents transactions from being sent to an outdated chain version, which is a critical security measure to avoid permanent loss of user funds.

This post Bithumb FLOW Suspension: Essential Guide to the Crucial Mainnet Upgrade on January 29 first appeared on BitcoinWorld.

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The gaming industry is in the midst of a historic shift, driven by the rise of Web3. Unlike traditional games, where developers and publishers control assets and dictate in-game economies, Web3 gaming empowers players with ownership and influence. Built on blockchain technology, these ecosystems are decentralized by design, enabling true digital asset ownership, transparent economies, and a future where players help shape the games they play. However, as Web3 gaming grows, security becomes a focal point. The range of security concerns, from hacking to asset theft to vulnerabilities in smart contracts, is a significant issue that will undermine or erode trust in this ecosystem, limiting or stopping adoption. Blockchain technology could be used to create security processes around secure, transparent, and fair Web3 gaming ecosystems. We will explore how security is increasing within gaming ecosystems, which challenges are being overcome, and what the future of security looks like. Why is Security Important in Web3 Gaming? Web3 gaming differs from traditional gaming in that players engage with both the game and assets with real value attached. Players own in-game assets that exist as tokens or NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), and can trade and sell them. These game assets usually represent significant financial value, meaning security failure could represent real monetary loss. In essence, without security, the promises of owning “something” in Web3, decentralized economies within games, and all that comes with the term “fair” gameplay can easily be eroded by fraud, hacking, and exploitation. This is precisely why the uniqueness of blockchain should be emphasized in securing Web3 gaming. How Blockchain Ensures Security in Web3 Gaming?

Immutable Ownership of Assets Blockchain records can be manipulated by anyone. If a player owns a sword, skin, or plot of land as an NFT, it is verifiably in their ownership, and it cannot be altered or deleted by the developer or even hacked. This has created a proven track record of ownership, providing control back to the players, unlike any centralised gaming platform where assets can be revoked.
Decentralized Infrastructure Blockchain networks also have a distributed architecture where game data is stored in a worldwide network of nodes, making them much less susceptible to centralised points of failure and attacks. This decentralised approach makes it exponentially more difficult to hijack systems or even shut off the game’s economy.
Secure Transactions with Cryptography Whether a player buys an NFT or trades their in-game tokens for other items or tokens, the transactions are enforced by cryptographic algorithms, ensuring secure, verifiable, and irreversible transactions and eliminating the risks of double-spending or fraudulent trades.
Smart Contract Automation Smart contracts automate the enforcement of game rules and players’ economic exchanges for the developer, eliminating the need for intermediaries or middlemen, and trust for the developer. For example, if a player completes a quest that promises a reward, the smart contract will execute and distribute what was promised.
Anti-Cheating and Fair Gameplay The naturally transparent nature of blockchain makes it extremely simple for anyone to examine a specific instance of gameplay and verify the economic outcomes from that play. Furthermore, multi-player games that enforce smart contracts on things like loot sharing or win sharing can automate and measure trustlessness and avoid cheating, manipulations, and fraud by developers.
Cross-Platform Security Many Web3 games feature asset interoperability across platforms. This interoperability is made viable by blockchain, which guarantees ownership is maintained whenever assets transition from one game or marketplace to another, thereby offering protection to players who rely on transfers for security against fraud. Key Security Dangers in Web3 Gaming Although blockchain provides sound first principles of security, the Web3 gaming ecosystem is susceptible to threats. Some of the most serious threats include:

Smart Contract Vulnerabilities: Smart contracts that are poorly written or lack auditing will leave openings for exploitation and thereby result in asset loss. Phishing Attacks: Unintentionally exposing or revealing private keys or signing transactions that are not possible to reverse, under the assumption they were genuine transaction requests. Bridge Hacks: Cross-chain bridges, which allow players to move their assets between their respective blockchains, continually face hacks, requiring vigilance from players and developers. Scams and Rug Pulls: Rug pulls occur when a game project raises money and leaves, leaving player assets worthless. Regulatory Ambiguity: Global regulations remain unclear; risks exist for players and developers alike. While blockchain alone won’t resolve every issue, it remediates the responsibility of the first principles, more so when joined by processes such as auditing, education, and the right governance, which can improve their contribution to the security landscapes in game ecosystems. Real Life Examples of Blockchain Security in Web3 Gaming Axie Infinity (Ronin Hack): The Axie Infinity game and several projects suffered one of the biggest hacks thus far on its Ronin bridge; however, it demonstrated the effectiveness of multi-sig security and the effective utilization of decentralization. The industry benefited through learning and reflection, thus, as projects have implemented changes to reduce the risks of future hacks or misappropriation. Immutable X: This Ethereum scaling solution aims to ensure secure NFT transactions for gaming, allowing players to trade an asset without the burden of exorbitant fees and fears of being a victim of fraud. Enjin: Enjin is providing a trusted infrastructure for Web3 games, offering secure NFT creation and transfer while reiterating that ownership and an asset securely belong to the player. These examples indubitably illustrate that despite challenges to overcome, blockchain remains the foundational layer on which to build more secure Web3 gaming environments. Benefits of Blockchain Security for Players and Developers For Players: Confidence in true ownership of assets Transparency in in-game economies Protection against nefarious trades/scams For Developers: More trust between players and the platform Less reliance on centralized infrastructure Ability to attract wealth and players based on provable fairness By incorporating blockchain security within the mechanics of game design, developers can create and enforce resilient ecosystems where players feel reassured in investing time, money, and ownership within virtual worlds. The Future of Secure Web3 Gaming Ecosystems As the wisdom of blockchain technology and industry knowledge improves, the future for secure Web3 gaming looks bright. New growing trends include: Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs): A new wave of protocols that enable private transactions and secure smart contracts while managing user privacy with an element of transparency. Decentralized Identity Solutions (DID): Helping players control their identities and decrease account theft risks. AI-Enhanced Security: Identifying irregularities in user interactions by sampling pattern anomalies to avert hacks and fraud by time-stamping critical events. Interoperable Security Standards: Allowing secured and seamless asset transfers across blockchains and games. With these innovations, blockchain will not only secure gaming assets but also enhance the overall trust and longevity of Web3 gaming ecosystems. Conclusion Blockchain is more than a buzzword in Web3; it is the only way to host security, fairness, and transparency. With blockchain, players confirm immutable ownership of digital assets, there is a decentralized infrastructure, and finally, it supports smart contracts to automate code that protects players and developers from the challenges of digital economies. The threats, vulnerabilities, and scams that come from smart contracts still persist, but the industry is maturing with better security practices, cross-chain solutions, and increased formal cryptographic tools. In the coming years, blockchain will remain the base to digital economies and drive Web3 gaming environments that allow players to safely own, trade, and enjoy their digital experiences free from fraud and exploitation. While blockchain and gaming alone entertain, we will usher in an era of secure digital worlds where trust complements innovation. The Role of Blockchain in Building Safer Web3 Gaming Ecosystems was originally published in Coinmonks on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story