- ›
data-vue-regional-dropdown aria-hidden="true">
Japan can be regarded as a progressive forerunner when it comes to cryptocurrency adoption. Yet, following two major hacking incidents, the country has gradually tightened regulations on crypto assets in recent years, which is believed to have slowed the growth of the industry.
Japan's cryptocurrency market and its early stages
Spot trading on cryptocurrency exchanges in Japan reached around 28.5 billion Japanese yen in the fiscal year 2021. Leverage trading declined to 37.2 trillion yen, down from a record 97.4 trillion yen in the previous year. The number of cryptocurrency investors in Japan has grown steadily in recent years. There were around 3.7 million active crypto asset accounts as of the end of 2022.
As an early adopter of cryptocurrency, Japan became a global center of the crypto industry in its initial stages. The crypto boom in 2017 led to rapid growth in the industry, with many new crypto exchanges emerging in a largely unregulated environment.
Regulations concerning crypto assets were introduced as early as 2016 following the collapse of Mt. Gox, one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges at the time, after a major hacking incident in 2014. A similar incident occurred in 2018 when Coincheck was hacked, and billions of Japanese yen in crypto assets were stolen. The incidents prompted Japan’s financial regulator, the Japan Financial Services Agency (FSA), to introduce stricter rules for the industry.
Cryptocurrency regulations
Following the Mt. Gox incident, Japan passed the first legal framework on cryptocurrency in 2016. In 2018, a self-regulatory body, the Japan Virtual and Crypto-assets Exchange Association (JCVEA), was established to oversee the industry. Further legal reform was passed in 2019 and 2022. Crypto exchange operators in Japan need to register with the FSA and follow strict rules regarding asset storage and capital requirements. Japan does not consider cryptocurrency legal tender but accepted it as a means of payment in 2016. Around 100,000 merchants in Japan were believed to accept cryptocurrency in 2022.
While Japan can be considered a forerunner in regulating cryptocurrencies and protecting consumers, the tightened regulations of recent years are also perceived to have slowed growth in the industry and affected the profitability of exchange operators. This shows, for example, in the fact that Japanese crypto exchanges offer far fewer coins than their overseas counterparts and that margin trading has declined significantly due to new restrictions on the maximum leverage allowed.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Dec 19, 2023
Key insights
- Cryptocurrency trading value
- 24.92tn JPY
Detailed statistics
Cryptocurrency trading value in Japan FY 2016-2022, by trading type
- Number of Bitcoins (BTC) held
- 155.74k
Detailed statistics
Monthly number and value of Bitcoin holdings in Japan 2018-2023
- Estimated number of stores accepting cryptocurrency
- 99.73k
Detailed statistics
Estimated number of stores accepting cryptocurrency in Japan FY 2018-2021
Get more insights
Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic
Further recommended statistics
- Premium Statistic Visitors to cryptocurrency trading platform Bittrex 2024, by country
Visitors to cryptocurrency trading platform Bittrex 2024, by country
Country of origin of desktop traffic to cryptocurrency exchange Bittrex in August 2024
- Premium Statistic Share of people investing in cryptocurrency in Australia 2022, by type
Share of people investing in cryptocurrency in Australia 2022, by type
Share of people investing in cryptocurrency in Australia as of January 2022, by type
- Premium Statistic Value of Bitcoin in top cryptocurrency exchange markets Thailand 2024
Value of Bitcoin in top cryptocurrency exchange markets Thailand 2024
Traded value of Bitcoin in leading cryptocurrency exchange markets in Thailand as of July 2024 (in 1,000 Thai baht)
- Premium Statistic Share of people who made cryptocurrency transactions in Turkey 2020-2023
Share of people who made cryptocurrency transactions in Turkey 2020-2023
Have you made a transaction with cryptocurrency or bitcoin?
- Premium Statistic Funding for cryptocurrency Singapore 2017-2023, by deals and value
Funding for cryptocurrency Singapore 2017-2023, by deals and value
Funding value for cryptocurrency companies in Singapore from 2017 to 2023, by number and value of deals (in millions U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Reasons for investing in cryptocurrency Singapore 2023
Reasons for investing in cryptocurrency Singapore 2023
Reasons for investing in cryptocurrency in Singapore as of November 2023
- Premium Statistic Leading cryptocurrency use cases Singapore 2023
Leading cryptocurrency use cases Singapore 2023
Leading cryptocurrency use cases in Singapore as of November 2023
- Premium Statistic Familiarity with cryptocurrency or Bitcoin in Turkey 2020-2023
Familiarity with cryptocurrency or Bitcoin in Turkey 2020-2023
Have you heard of the concept of cryptocurrency or Bitcoin?
- Premium Statistic People who think cryptocurrency deposits can replace bank deposits in Poland 2023
People who think cryptocurrency deposits can replace bank deposits in Poland 2023
Can cryptocurrency deposits replace bank deposits in the future?
- Premium Statistic Duration of investing in cryptocurrency in Poland 2023
Duration of investing in cryptocurrency in Poland 2023
Duration of investing in cryptocurrency in Poland in 2023
- Premium Statistic Cryptocurrency ownership in Germany 2020-2023, by age
Cryptocurrency ownership in Germany 2020-2023, by age
Age groups who own a cryptocurrency in Germany from 2020 to 2023
- Premium Statistic Cryptocurrency ownership in Germany 2020-2023, by gender
Cryptocurrency ownership in Germany 2020-2023, by gender
Men and women who own a cryptocurrency in Germany from 2020 to 2023
- Premium Statistic Biggest cryptocurrency wallets in Brazil 2015-2024, based on downloads
Biggest cryptocurrency wallets in Brazil 2015-2024, based on downloads
Biggest wallets for cryptocurrency storage in Brazil from 1st quarter of 2015 to 2nd quarter of 2024, by number of downloads
- Premium Statistic Monthly downloads of the biggest crypto wallets worldwide 2015-2024
Monthly downloads of the biggest crypto wallets worldwide 2015-2024
Estimate of the number of downloads of the 21 largest apps that allow for cryptocurrency storage worldwide from January 2015 to May 2024
- Premium Statistic Annual value of cryptocurrency losses worldwide 2021-2022
Annual value of cryptocurrency losses worldwide 2021-2022
Value of cryptocurrency theft worldwide in 2021 and 2022 (in million U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Cryptocurrency awareness in Singapore 2024, by coin
Cryptocurrency awareness in Singapore 2024, by coin
Awareness of cryptocurrency in Singapore as of February 2024, by coin
- Premium Statistic Cryptocurrency trading value in Japan FY 2016-2022, by trading type
Cryptocurrency trading value in Japan FY 2016-2022, by trading type
Value of transactions with cryptocurrency in Japan from fiscal year 2016 to 2022, by type of trading (in trillion Japanese yen)
- Premium Statistic Investment value in cryptocurrency and blockchain Singapore 2020-2022
Investment value in cryptocurrency and blockchain Singapore 2020-2022
Value of investments in cryptocurrency and blockchain in Singapore from 2020 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Number of active cryptocurrency trading accounts Thailand 2024
Number of active cryptocurrency trading accounts Thailand 2024
Number of active cryptocurrency trading accounts in Thailand from January 2021 to January 15, 2024 (in 1,000s)
- Premium Statistic Ownership of cryptocurrency in Poland 2023
Ownership of cryptocurrency in Poland 2023
Have you ever owned a cryptocurrency?
- Premium Statistic Cryptocurrency adoption in Singapore 2024, by coin
Cryptocurrency adoption in Singapore 2024, by coin
Adoption of cryptocurrency in Singapore as of February 2024, by coin
- Premium Statistic Cryptocurrency awareness in Singapore 2024, by age
Cryptocurrency awareness in Singapore 2024, by age
Awareness of cryptocurrency in Singapore as of February 2024, by age
- Basic Statistic Amount of cryptocurrency cybercrime losses among U.S. seniors 2020-2023
Amount of cryptocurrency cybercrime losses among U.S. seniors 2020-2023
Amount of cryptocurrency payments through cybercrime among individuals over 60 years in the United States from 2020 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Sources to learn about cryptocurrency among users Singapore 2023
Sources to learn about cryptocurrency among users Singapore 2023
Trusted sources used to learn about cryptocurrency among users in Singapore as of November 2023
- Premium Statistic Social media platforms used to learn about cryptocurrency Singapore 2023
Social media platforms used to learn about cryptocurrency Singapore 2023
Social media platforms used to learn about cryptocurrency among users in Singapore as of November 2023
- Premium Statistic Value of Ethereum in leading cryptocurrency exchange platforms Thailand 2024
Value of Ethereum in leading cryptocurrency exchange platforms Thailand 2024
Traded value of Ethereum in leading cryptocurrency exchange markets in Thailand as of July 2024 (in 1,000 Thai baht)
- Premium Statistic Visitors to cryptocurrency trading platform Bithumb 2024, by country
Visitors to cryptocurrency trading platform Bithumb 2024, by country
Country of origin of desktop traffic to cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb in August 2024
- Premium Statistic Visitors to cryptocurrency trading platform Upbit 2024, by country
Visitors to cryptocurrency trading platform Upbit 2024, by country
Country of origin of desktop traffic to cryptocurrency exchange Upbit in August 2024
- Premium Statistic Cryptocurrency use cases in the U.S. 2023, by age, gender, income, race
Cryptocurrency use cases in the U.S. 2023, by age, gender, income, race
Share of respondents who said they used cryptocurrency either for investments or transaction in the United States in 2023, by age, gender, income, and race
- Premium Statistic Weekly investment flow into cryptocurrency, such as from Bitcoin ETFs, 2023-2024
Weekly investment flow into cryptocurrency, such as from Bitcoin ETFs, 2023-2024
Cryptocurrency investment inflow and outflow specifically coming from investment products, like Bitcoin ETFs, worldwide from November 2023 to April 2024
- Premium Statistic Share of people investing in cryptocurrency in Poland 2018-2023
Share of people investing in cryptocurrency in Poland 2018-2023
Share of people investing in cryptocurrency in Poland from 2018 to 2023, by age
- Premium Statistic Share of cryptocurrency investors Vietnam 2023, by income
Share of cryptocurrency investors Vietnam 2023, by income
Share of cryptocurrency investors in Vietnam in 2023, by income
- Premium Statistic Share of cryptocurrency investors Vietnam 2023, by age
Share of cryptocurrency investors Vietnam 2023, by age
Share of cryptocurrency investors in Vietnam in 2023, by age
- Premium Statistic Reasons for choosing cryptocurrency exchanges Singapore 2023
Reasons for choosing cryptocurrency exchanges Singapore 2023
Reasons for choosing cryptocurrency exchanges in Singapore as of November 2023
- Premium Statistic Cryptocurrency adoption index ranking Indonesia 2023, by metric
Cryptocurrency adoption index ranking Indonesia 2023, by metric
Cryptocurrency adoption index ranking in Indonesia in 2023, by metric
- Premium Statistic Annual cryptocurrency trading volume in Czechia 2019-2022
Annual cryptocurrency trading volume in Czechia 2019-2022
Annual cryptocurrency trading volume in Czechia from 2019 to 2022 (in billion Czech koruna)
- Basic Statistic Illegal cryptocurrency transaction share worldwide 2017-2022
Illegal cryptocurrency transaction share worldwide 2017-2022
Share of illicit transactions in all cryptocurrency transactions worldwide from 2017 to 2022
- Premium Statistic Contentment with cryptocurrency investments in Czechia 2022
Contentment with cryptocurrency investments in Czechia 2022
Are you satisfied with cryptocurrency investments?
- Premium Statistic Cryptocurrency ownership among respondents in Malaysia Q1 2019-Q4 2023
Cryptocurrency ownership among respondents in Malaysia Q1 2019-Q4 2023
Cryptocurrency ownership among respondents in Malaysia from 1st quarter 2019 to 4th quarter 2023
- Premium Statistic Cryptocurrency users Singapore 2023, by income level
Cryptocurrency users Singapore 2023, by income level
Breakdown of cryptocurrency users in Singapore as of November 2023, by income level (in Singapore dollars)
- Premium Statistic Cryptocurrency ownership Singapore 2023, by amount
Cryptocurrency ownership Singapore 2023, by amount
Cryptocurrency ownership among finance-forward Singaporeans as of November 2023, by amount (in U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Cryptocurrency ownership Singapore 2023
Cryptocurrency ownership Singapore 2023
Cryptocurrency ownership among finance-forward Singaporeans as of November 2023
- Premium Statistic Main cryptocurrency applications of interest Singapore 2023
Main cryptocurrency applications of interest Singapore 2023
Cryptocurrency applications of interest among Singaporeans as of November 2023
Global VC, PE and M&A investments in blockchain and cryptocurrency 2018-2022
Value of venture capital, private equity and M&A investments made in blockchain and cryptocurrency worldwide from 2018 to H1 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Basic Statistic Cryptocurrency ownership in Australia 2019-2022
Cryptocurrency ownership in Australia 2019-2022
Share of people who own cryptocurrency in Australia from 2019 to 2022
- Premium Statistic Estimated number of stores accepting cryptocurrency in Japan FY 2018-2021
Estimated number of stores accepting cryptocurrency in Japan FY 2018-2021
Estimated number of merchants accepting cryptocurrency as payment method in Japan from fiscal year 2018 to 2021
- Premium Statistic Number of cryptocurrency funding deals Philippines 2016-2022
Number of cryptocurrency funding deals Philippines 2016-2022
Number of funding deals for cryptocurrency in the Philippines from 2016 to 2022
- Premium Statistic Amount of cryptocurrency projects in South Korea 2022, by sector
Amount of cryptocurrency projects in South Korea 2022, by sector
Number of cryptocurrency projects listed in South Korea as of October 2022, by sector
- Premium Statistic Amount of daily cryptocurrency transactions in South Korea 2022, by market
Amount of daily cryptocurrency transactions in South Korea 2022, by market
Daily cryptocurrency transaction amount in South Korea in 1st half of 2022, by market (in trillion South Korean won)
- Premium Statistic Leading cryptocurrency exchanges trading fees in South Korea 2022, by exchange
Leading cryptocurrency exchanges trading fees in South Korea 2022, by exchange
Trading fees of leading cryptocurrency exchanges in South Korea in 2022, by exchange
