Coincheck is one of Asia’s biggest cryptocurrency exchanges and processed the highest volumes of Bitcoin trading in Japan over the course of 2017. More users also make use of Coincheck’s Android and iOS apps than those of any other Asian exchange. The company behind Coincheck was established in 2012 by Keisuke Wada and Yusuke Otsuka and the exchange itself began operating in 2014. Both founders are current directors with Wada acting as CEO and Otsuka COO. While nominally a Japanese exchange Coincheck is available internationally.
- The Coincheck Platform
- Deposit and Withdrawal Options/Fees
- Privacy and Security
- Customer Support
- Pros and Cons
- FAQs
- Conclusion
The exchange has a license to operate as a digital currencies exchange in Japan and is audited by the Japan Blockchain Association. It’s also a member of the Japan Virtual Currency Business Operator Association and General Association of FinTech. Capital reserves are listed as ¥ 92 million.
In addition to its exchange, Coincheck also provides merchants with a payments system that means they are able to accept cryptocurrency payments that are then automatically converted into ¥. A further service is a ‘lending’ system that operates much like a traditional bank savings account. Users can lend their cryptocurrency funds to Coincheck with interest rates of up to 5% paid on deposits. The company even, slightly off-track from its core services, offers electricity provision with bills paid in Bitcoin in partnership with some of the major power utilities in Japan. A prepaid Visa debit card that can be loaded with Bitcoin automatically converted into fiat currency for transactions, is another added service Coincheck offers.
The Coincheck Platform
As might be expected of a Japanese technology-driven company, one of Coincheck’s core strengths is the technology behind its exchange. The exchange itself is very well designed and has intuitive usability that will be appreciated by new users and those with little or no experience of financial exchanges. Cryptocurrency wallet hosting services are also provided by Coincheck with Android and iOS digital wallet apps available. Exchange accounts can also be funded via iOS.
As well as Bitcoin trading, Coincheck’s exchange also supports a range of other cryptocurrencies. Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, Lisk, Ripple, Zcash, Dash, Litecoin, and Monero are some, though not all of the other cryptos that can be traded on the exchange. It does tend to stick to the bigger cryptocurrencies though so this is not the exchange for those who wish to diversify into more obscure options.
Deposit and Withdrawal Options/Fees
Coincheck account holders can fund their accounts by either bank transfer or debit and credit card if adding fiat currency. Yen bank transfer deposits are not charged but deposits made in USD are charged a flat fee of $25 or ¥2500 from bank accounts not located in Japan. Account holders can also transfer supported cryptocurrency holding into their account if they wish to make cross-cryptocurrency purchases. All prices are denominated in yen as their base currency.
Withdrawals can also be made to a bank account or credit card if in fiat currency or cryptocurrency wallet. Yen withdrawals are charged at ¥400 and USD withdrawals ¥2500.
The exchange is currently charging no trading transaction fees so buying and selling cryptocurrencies on Coincheck is free, though that would be expected to change at some point in the future.
Privacy and Security
Like most cryptocurrency exchanges that support fiat currency deposits and withdrawals, Coincheck has two tiers of accounts that come with two levels of personal identity verification requirements. Depositing up to $500 or withdrawing up to $300 a day requires only email address verification and a valid mobile number for SMS verification. Account holders who wish to take advantage of higher deposit or withdrawal levels will have to provide personal identification documents such as a passport or other form of government-issued ID and proof of address.
Wallets hosted by Coincheck offer 2-factor authentication security and ‘cold storage’. This means they are generally not accessible online by anyone who hacked the exchange. Wallets only go ‘hot’ at the point a transaction is actually being made.
Customer Support
Like most cryptocurrency exchanges, Coincheck provides support in the form of a ‘Help Centre’ with FAQ and an email-based ticketing system for any issues that the literature provided fails to address. Languages that FAQs are provided in and support staff can respond to tickets in are Japanese, English, Chinese and Indonesian.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Nicely designed exchange which is very easy to use
- Credit card payments accepted
- Wallet apps provided
- JPY and USD supported
- Fee-free trading period
- Good reputation
- Strong range of major cryptocurrencies supported
Cons
- No telephone or chat-based customer support
- Verification process for international account holders complex
FAQs
Is Coincheck a Safe Cryptocurrency Exchange?
In terms of the ownership and reputation of the company, Coincheck is a safe choice. Japanese requirements for issuing a license to a cryptocurrency exchange are strict and mean the exchange is audited both financially and for cybersecurity.
I am Not from Japan. Can I Still Have an Account on Coincheck?
Yes, Coincheck accepts international account holders. You will have to provide a copy of your passport and proof of address and the verification process takes a little more time but there are no restrictions on non-Japanese account holders.
How Can I fund a Coincheck Account?
Coincheck accounts can be funded either via bank transfer or debit/credit card payment. Alternatively, you can also transfer cryptocurrencies into an account from an external wallet.
What are Coincheck’s Trading Fees?
Coincheck currently offers commission-free trading which means it costs absolutely nothing to buy and sell cryptocurrencies on the exchange.
Conclusion
Coincheck is a very high-quality cryptocurrency exchange and also offers some useful additional services such as prepaid Visa cards that can be funded by Bitcoin. The level of the technology the exchange runs on is one of the best internationally and it is also extremely easy to navigate. The fact that the verification process for international account holders is slightly complex and may put some off. Also, supporting additional fiat currencies to USD and JPY with options such as euro would increase international appeal.
