01Japan market passport
If you want to buy crypto in Japan, the whole rulebook fits in one sentence: use an exchange registered with the Financial Services Agency (JFSA, 金融庁). Japan was one of the first countries to regulate exchanges by law. After Tokyo-based Mt.Gox collapsed in 2014, the Payment Services Act began requiring registration in 2017. The upshot: fewer choices than offshore, but someone answers for it when things go wrong, and customer assets must be kept separate from the exchange's own.
- Regulator
- Financial Services Agency (JFSA) + Local Finance Bureaus; self-regulator JVCEA
- Law
- Payment Services Act; FIEA amendment enacted 15 Jul 2026, expected in force FY2027
- Registered
- 27 exchange service providers (1 Sep 2026)
- Currency
- Japanese yen (JPY)
- Accounts
- 14.28m, 8.86m active (JVCEA, Jul 2026)
- Tax
- Miscellaneous income, up to ~55%; 20% flat expected from 2028
- Deposits
- Bank transfer, instant net-bank, konbini, PayPay (Binance Japan)
- CEX.IO
- Not available to residents of Japan
02Is it legal? How the JFSA register works
Buying and selling crypto is fully legal in Japan, but anyone who operates an exchange must register with the JFSA as a crypto-asset exchange service provider (暗号資産交換業者). As of 1 September 2026, the JFSA register lists 27 of them: 25 under the Kanto Local Finance Bureau and 2 under Kinki. The newest is Laser Digital Japan, part of the Nomura group, registered on 21 August 2026. A couple of entries are dormant: Coinbase's Japanese entity and Gate Japan both show "取扱いなし", meaning they handle no crypto at all.
The bigger change is still ahead. On 15 July 2026 the Upper House enacted amendments to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA) and the Payment Services Act. They reclassify crypto from a "means of payment" to a financial product, introduce an insider-trading ban (up to five years in prison or a ¥5 million fine), add disclosure duties for issuers and stiffen penalties for unregistered operators. The new regime is expected to take effect in fiscal 2027, and it also opens the door to crypto ETFs in Japan.
Global exchanges are in very different positions. The JFSA's page on unregistered operators names Bybit, MEXC, Bitget, KuCoin, LBank and others, and Binance's holding company was warned in 2018 and 2021.
| Platform | For Japan residents | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Binance | Binance Japan only | Bought ex-Sakura Exchange BitCoin in 2022; registered as Kanto No. 00031. The global site does not serve residents |
| OKX | OKJ only | Affiliate OKJ (formerly OKCoin Japan) is registered; OKX global does not serve Japan |
| Bybit | Exiting | Stopped Japanese sign-ups on 31 Oct 2025; restricting existing resident accounts since January 2026 |
| Coinbase | No retail service | Its Japanese entity is still registered but handles no coins; retail ended in 2023 |
| Kraken | Left | Reportedly left Japan in January 2023; not on the register |
| CEX.IO | Not available | Japan is on its list of unsupported countries |
If you just want to know which registered exchange is cheapest or has the best app, we scored each one in the best crypto exchanges in Japan. This page walks you through the buying process itself.
03How people in Japan buy crypto: sign-up to first deposit
Opening an account at a Japanese exchange is very standardised. It is almost always eKYC: photograph your ID on your phone and take a selfie, and fast exchanges approve you the same day. Where exchanges really differ is in how you fund the account and, as we will see, the dealer-desk spread.
- Choose an exchange from the JFSA register
Beginners usually start with bitFlyer, Coincheck, GMO Coin, bitbank or SBI VC Trade. Confirm the name is on the register, then compare fees and coins.
- Verify your identity with eKYC
Have a driving licence, My Number card or residence card ready. Most exchanges also ask you to register your My Number.
- Link a bank account in your own name and deposit yen
Transfer JPY to the exchange’s designated account; an instant net-bank deposit is quicker. Deposits and withdrawals must use an account in your own name.
- Buy on the order book (torihikijo)
For the same bitcoin, the order-book fee is far lower than the dealer desk’s built-in spread. Recurring buys (積立) are available for small amounts.
- Turn on 2FA and consider self-custody
As the balance grows, you can withdraw to MetaMask or a hardware wallet. Always send a small test amount first.
Ways to deposit yen
Bank transfer (Zengin) is the default. Most exchanges take deposits for free, and you only pay your own bank's transfer fee. Instant net-bank deposits (SBI Sumishin, PayPay Bank, Rakuten Bank and others) are free at GMO Coin and start at ¥770 at Coincheck. Convenience-store (konbini) deposits are a Coincheck speciality: ¥770 under ¥30,000 and ¥1,018 from ¥30,000 to ¥300,000. That suits people without online banking, but it is pricey on small amounts.
PayPay: Binance Japan reportedly accepts PayPay Money deposits from ¥1,000 since November 2025, with ¥110 to withdraw back to PayPay. Points are a uniquely Japanese on-ramp: Rakuten Wallet lets you use Rakuten Points, and Mercoin lets you use your Mercari sales proceeds, which is a gentle way to try crypto with small sums. Credit cards: domestic exchanges generally do not accept cards for crypto purchases. More on bank funding in buying crypto by bank transfer, and on konbini and cash in buying crypto with cash.
04Hanbaijo vs torihikijo: the most expensive lesson for beginners
Almost every Japanese exchange gives you two ways to buy, and their costs can differ by a factor of fifty. The big "購入" (buy) button on the app's home screen usually leads to the dealer desk.
Hanbaijo 販売所 (dealer desk)
- You trade directly with the exchange at its quoted price
- Advertised as "手数料無料" (no fee)
- The real cost hides in the buy/sell spread: often 1–5%, higher on some coins
- Simple; fine for a one-off small buy
Torihikijo 取引所 (order book)
- Users trade with each other on an order book
- Fees of about 0–0.15%; makers often get a rebate
- Coincheck charges 0% on major coins; GMO Coin pays makers -0.01%
- You need to place a limit order; the screen is busier
To compare Japanese costs with the rest of Asia, see crypto exchange fees compared.
05How to buy bitcoin in Japan as a foreigner
"Can foreigners buy bitcoin in Japan?" is one of the questions we get most. The answer depends on whether you are a resident of Japan, not on your passport. Below is the general legal and practical picture; each exchange's own account-opening conditions are what count.
Long-term residents with a residence card (work, study, spouse or permanent-resident status, and so on) can generally open an account just like Japanese citizens. You verify with your zairyu card, give a Japanese address and a bank account in your own name, and most exchanges will also ask you to register your My Number (マイナンバー). Some exchanges set their own conditions on the remaining period of stay or only offer a Japanese-language interface, so read the requirements before you apply.
Short-term tourists have neither a residence card nor a Japanese address, so they usually cannot open an account at a registered exchange. You can keep using platforms that are legal where you actually live. Your account's scope is set by your country of residence, though, so never misstate it or use someone else's documents: that breaks platform terms and can get your funds frozen.
When you leave Japan, tell your exchange about the change of address early, and plan to withdraw yen or coins to an account in your own name. Once an exchange learns you are no longer resident, it may restrict your service.
Visiting Japan but resident in a supported country? An international platform lets you buy with Visa, Mastercard or Apple Pay.Not available to residents of Japan · based on your country of residence
Get started06What people in Japan actually buy
JVCEA's July 2026 spot figures put bitcoin at ¥437.9 billion, about 65% of volume, ahead of Ethereum (¥130 billion) and, in third place, XRP at ¥52 billion, followed by SOL, XLM, DOGE and ADA. XRP is unusually popular in Japan, which reflects SBI group's long partnership with Ripple. Chainalysis counted $21.7 billion of fiat trading in XRP in Japan over the 12 months to June 2025, against $4.7 billion for bitcoin.
Japanese exchanges also list home-grown projects such as Symbol (XYM), Monacoin (MONA), gold-backed Zipangcoin (ZPG), JASMY and Oasys (OAS). For stablecoins, the yen-pegged JPYC launched on 27 October 2025, and SBI VC Trade offers USDC as a regulated "electronic payment instrument". This is a description of the market, not a recommendation of any coin.
07The DMM Bitcoin hack: registered exchanges get hacked too
On 31 May 2024, the registered exchange DMM Bitcoin lost about 4,502.9 BTC, worth some ¥48.2 billion. The JFSA and the National Police Agency later attributed the attack to "TraderTraitor", a group linked to North Korea. DMM Group compensated users in full, the exchange shut down on 8 March 2025, and accounts and assets moved to SBI VC Trade.
It was not Japan's first incident: Coincheck lost NEM in 2018, and Zaif was hacked the same year. Unlike many offshore cases, though, Japanese customers largely got their assets back, thanks to mandatory segregation and cold-storage rules. When FTX collapsed, FTX Japan customers were repaid under those same local segregation rules.
Offshore is a different story. Bybit covered the roughly $1.4 billion it lost in February 2025 from its own funds, but in Japan it is an unregistered operator, so Japanese law does not protect its users. Also watch out for emails impersonating the JFSA, social-media "investment groups" and romance scams. More in exchange safety and licences.
08Tax: from up to 55% to a flat 20%
This is the topic Japanese investors care about most. Today, crypto gains count as miscellaneous income, which is added to your salary and taxed at progressive rates of up to about 55% (45% national income tax plus 10% resident tax). Crypto-to-crypto swaps are taxable, and losses cannot be carried forward. Salaried workers with side income of ¥200,000 or less are generally thought not to need an income-tax return, but resident tax has its own rules, so check with the tax office.
The FY2026 Tax Reform Outline, published on 19 December 2025, proposes a 20% separate self-assessment tax (15% national plus 5% local) on "specified crypto assets" handled by registered exchanges, with a three-year loss carry-forward. It is expected to start no earlier than 1 January 2028, together with the FIEA changes, but as of October 2026 it is not yet in the Income Tax Act. On the outline's logic, gains on unregistered offshore platforms would likely stay under the old regime, which is one more reason to use a registered domestic exchange. Compare other countries in crypto tax in Asia.
09Wallets and transfers: Japan's Travel Rule
Most people in Japan keep their coins on the exchange; the bitFlyer, Coincheck and bitbank apps double as wallets. For self-custody, MetaMask is the most common choice (4.62★ from 15,400 ratings in the Japanese App Store), followed by Bitget Wallet, Trust Wallet and OKX Wallet. Ledger and Trezor hardware wallets are sold in Japan. Buy only from the official store or authorised resellers, because second-hand or grey-market devices can be tampered with. See the best crypto wallets for a comparison.
Japan has applied the Travel Rule, which requires sender and recipient details to travel with a transfer, since 2023, and there is no minimum amount. When you withdraw from a Japanese exchange to an offshore one, you may need to name the receiving platform and the beneficiary, and some offshore platforms cannot be selected at all. Withdrawals to your own wallet usually require you to declare that it is yours. The full process is in our Travel Rule guide. For contrast, see how the neighbours do it in buying crypto in South Korea.
FAQ
Is it legal to buy crypto in Japan?
Yes. Crypto is regulated under the Payment Services Act, and anyone running an exchange for Japanese residents must register with the Financial Services Agency (JFSA) as a crypto-asset exchange service provider. As of 1 September 2026 there are 27 registered providers. Unregistered offshore exchanges such as Bybit, MEXC and Bitget have received FSA warning letters and offer no protection under Japanese law.
How do I buy bitcoin in Japan as a foreigner?
What matters is residency, not nationality. Foreign nationals living in Japan with a residence card (zairyu card), a Japanese address and a bank account in their own name can generally open an account at a registered exchange; most exchanges also ask for your My Number. Short-term tourists usually cannot open an account. Always declare your real country of residence.
What is the difference between hanbaijo and torihikijo?
The hanbaijo (販売所) is a dealer desk: you trade with the exchange at its quoted price. It is advertised as fee-free, but the spread is often 1–5% and can be higher (Coincheck discloses 0.1–5.0%). The torihikijo (取引所) is an order book where users trade with each other for about 0–0.15% in fees, and makers sometimes earn a rebate. The order book is usually far cheaper.
How much tax do you pay on crypto in Japan?
For the 2026 tax year, crypto gains are miscellaneous income added to your salary and taxed at progressive rates of up to about 55% (45% national plus 10% resident tax), with no loss carry-forward. The FY2026 tax reform outline plans a flat 20% separate tax with a three-year loss carry-forward for assets on registered exchanges, expected from 1 January 2028 but not yet law.
Can I buy crypto in Japan with PayPay or a credit card?
Binance Japan reportedly accepts PayPay Money deposits from ¥1,000 since November 2025. Domestic exchanges generally do not let you buy crypto with a credit card. The usual routes are a bank transfer, an instant net-bank deposit, or a convenience-store deposit at Coincheck, which costs ¥770–¥1,018.
Sources
- JFSA — Register of crypto-asset exchange service providers (1 Sep 2026) · checked Oct 2026
- JFSA — Crypto assets page (warnings to unregistered operators) · checked Oct 2026
- JVCEA — Monthly crypto trading statistics, July 2026 · updated Sep 2026
- Coincheck — Fee schedule · checked Oct 2026
- DMM Bitcoin — Service closure and account transfer notice · Dec 2024
- Chainalysis — 2026 Global Crypto Adoption Index · Sep 2026
- So & Sato — Japan’s 2026 FIEA amendment bill · 2026
Pick your exchange from the JFSA list first
If you live in Japan, use a JFSA-registered domestic exchange. Our full ranking with fees is in best crypto exchanges in Japan. The international platform below serves residents of supported countries only.
Not available to residents of Japan · check your country of residence