Can foreigners buy crypto in Japan?
Yes, and plenty do. Japan does not restrict crypto by nationality. What matters is residence. Japanese exchanges are licensed to serve people who live in Japan, and they verify that with your ID and address. If you hold a residence card在留カード (zairyū kādo): the photo ID card issued to foreign nationals staying in Japan for the mid to long term. It shows your status of residence, period of stay and address., have registered your address at city hall and have a Japanese bank account, you can open an account much like a Japanese citizen.
The people who struggle are short-term visitors. A tourist entering on a temporary visitor status does not get a residence card, has no Japanese address to verify, and usually has no Japanese bank account. For them, the realistic routes are international platforms that accept foreign cards, a couple of crypto ATMs, and spending options built for inbound visitors. We cover those in the section for tourists.
One more rule frames everything else: only firms registered with the Financial Services Agency (FSA, 金融庁) may serve Japan residents. There were 27 at the end of September 2026. Once you live here, the global exchange you used back home may no longer be an option, and several have closed Japanese accounts after FSA warnings. Our explainer on whether crypto is legal in Japan covers the rules in depth.
What do you need to open a Japanese crypto exchange account?
Japanese exchanges must identify customers under the Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds, so the checklist is fairly standard across the industry. Have these ready before you start.
- A residence card or My Number card with your current address. The address you type in must match the one on your ID.
- A registered address in Japan. Some verification methods send a letter that cannot be forwarded (転送不要郵便) to the address on file.
- A Japanese bank account in your own name for yen deposits and withdrawals. Transfers from other people's accounts are refused.
- A mobile phone and email address for sign-up and two-factor login codes.
- Your tax details: your country or countries of tax residence and, for any foreign one, your tax identification number.
- Basic profile answers: occupation, income range, investment experience and why you want to trade. These are legal requirements, not small talk.
Online verification (eKYCElectronic know-your-customer: proving your identity online by photographing your ID and face, reading the IC chip in your card, or using the My Number card's digital certificate.) usually takes minutes on a smartphone. Japanese rules currently allow a selfie with a photo of your ID, a selfie with an IC-chip read of your card, or the My Number card's digital certificate, among other methods. If anything does not match, such as an old address on your residence card or a name spelled differently from your bank account, expect the application to bounce back.
Get your residence paperwork in order
Register your address at city hall so it appears on your residence card, and consider applying for a My Number card.
Open a Japanese bank account in your own name
You need it to deposit and withdraw yen. Note exactly how your name is written on the account.
Sign up with an FSA-registered exchange
Enter your name, address, occupation, purpose of trading and tax residence (CARF self-certification).
Verify your identity online
Photograph or scan your residence card or My Number card and take a selfie, or use the My Number card certificate.
Deposit yen and buy
Transfer from your own bank account, then buy on the dealer desk or the order book.
For screen-by-screen guidance once your account is open, read how to buy bitcoin in Japan. Most exchanges run two different places to buy: a simple dealer desk販売所 (hanbaijo): the exchange sells to you directly at its own price. Easy to use, but the gap between buy and sell prices (the spread) is the real cost. and a cheaper order book. Our fee comparison shows why that difference matters.
Does your visa or residence status matter?
Less than people fear, but more than zero. The legal requirement is identity and residence verification, and a residence card serves for both whether you are on an engineer visa, a student visa, a spouse visa or permanent residency. We are not aware of any law that bars a particular status of residence from holding crypto, and we have not published a "visa type versus exchange" table because exchanges do not publish one consistently and we will not guess.
That said, each exchange sets its own acceptance rules on top of the law, and those rules are not always public. Details such as how they treat a short remaining period of stay are rarely spelled out. Practical ways to improve your odds: apply only once your residence card shows your current address, use your name exactly as it appears on your bank account, answer the occupation and income questions honestly, and keep your period of stay valid. When you renew your residence card or move, update your details with the exchange too.
If your stay is about to end, think twice before opening a new account. Japanese exchanges serve people who live in Japan; bitbank, for example, states that it does not accept individuals living outside Japan. An account you open three months before leaving may need to be wound down almost immediately.
Residence card, My Number card and the move to IC-chip ID
Foreign residents registered at a Japanese address are assigned an individual number, the My Numberマイナンバー: the 12-digit individual number assigned to everyone registered as living in Japan, including foreign residents. The optional My Number card carries a digital certificate for online ID., and can apply for the plastic My Number card. You do not strictly need the card to open an exchange account today, because the residence card is accepted for identity checks. But it is worth getting.
Japan is phasing out image-upload ID checks, which are easier to fake, in favour of methods that read an IC chip or use the My Number card's digital certificate. The ordinance making this change was promulgated in June 2025. Its start date is widely reported as 1 April 2027, but we could not confirm that from the text, so treat it as unconfirmed. Some exchanges are moving early: Zaif has announced that it will verify customers with the My Number card only. When you use the card, the exchange does not keep the number itself on file. Other services are moving the same way: PayPay, for example, currently cannot verify newer residence cards and points users to the My Number card (details in the exchange section below).
Name mismatches are the most avoidable problem
Foreign names can appear in capitals, full-width characters or katakana depending on the bank. Before signing up, look at how your name is printed on your bank account and enter it the same way where the exchange allows. Japanese banks now block transfers to exchanges when the sender's name does not match the account holder.
Why is the exchange asking for my foreign tax number?
Since 1 January 2026 Japan has applied CARFCrypto-Asset Reporting Framework: an OECD standard under which crypto platforms collect customers' tax residence details and tax authorities exchange that information automatically., the OECD's crypto reporting framework. Anyone opening an account at a Japanese crypto exchange, stablecoin dealer or securities firm offering crypto must file a self-certification of tax residence. People who already had accounts on 31 December 2025 must file too. If you are tax resident in another country, you give that country's TINTax identification number: the number your home tax authority uses for you, such as a US SSN or ITIN, a UK UTR or National Insurance number, or an equivalent..
This is why the form asks for something that looks unrelated to buying bitcoin. The exchange reports information on customers who are tax resident abroad to Japan's National Tax Agency, which exchanges it with the tax authorities of those countries; according to the NTA, reporting is scheduled to begin in 2027. Answer accurately and list every country where you are tax resident. If you are unsure whether you count as tax resident in your home country after moving to Japan, ask a tax adviser before you file rather than guessing.
What about US citizens and green-card holders?
Americans face one extra layer. Japanese banks and securities firms routinely ask whether you are a "US person" for FATCA purposes and may ask for extra forms. Whether and how each crypto exchange restricts US persons is not consistently published, and we could not verify current policies exchange by exchange, so we are not listing any. Ask the exchange's support desk before you apply, and keep the answer in writing.
Two things hold regardless of the exchange's policy. First, the United States taxes its citizens and green-card holders on worldwide income wherever they live, so gains on a Japanese exchange may need to appear on both your Japanese and US returns. Second, on the CARF form, declare every country where you are tax resident. A cross-border tax adviser who knows both systems is worth the fee here. If you live near a US base, our Okinawa and Yokohama and Kanagawa guides add local notes.
Which Japanese exchange should a foreigner use?
Any of the registered exchanges that handle crypto can work for a foreign resident; the full roster with registration numbers is in our FSA-registered exchange list, and the homepage comparison sets fees, minimums and deposit options side by side. Be ready to work largely in Japanese. Among the exchanges we checked, we could confirm English-language help articles only at bitbank (see our bitbank review). We do not claim English support for others unless we have seen it.
The deciding factor is often your existing money setup. If you already use PayPay, Binance Japan can take PayPay Money for purchases, once you have passed identity checks at both PayPay and Binance Japan; see buying crypto with PayPay. One catch for recent arrivals: per PayPay's notice on its identity-verification page, residence cards issued on or after 14 June 2026 cannot be used for PayPay's eKYC for now, with no date set for support, and PayPay recommends applying with a My Number card instead. PayPay also requires at least 90 days of validity left on a residence card at the time you apply. If you collect Rakuten or other points, points-to-crypto routes let you start without cash. If you bank with Japan Post Bank or PayPay Bank, check which exchanges offer free instant deposits from that bank in our ways to pay guide. Reviews of bitFlyer, Coincheck, SBI VC Trade and GMO Coin go deeper.
Japanese crypto vocabulary can be a hurdle. Our crypto glossary pairs each English term with the Japanese word you will see on screen.
Getting yen in and out: banks, names and limits
Everything at a Japanese exchange runs through yen and a Japanese bank account in your own name. Deposits from a spouse's or friend's account are rejected, and since 2024 a growing number of banks, including Bank of Yokohama, Hokkaido Bank and 77 Bank, block transfers to exchanges where the sender's name differs from the account holder. Japan Post Bank has warned that accounts may be restricted after suspicious transfers to an exchange. Send from your own account, every time.
Cashing out works the same way in reverse: you sell for yen on the exchange and withdraw to your own bank account. Withdrawal fees and minimums vary by exchange; our guide to cashing out crypto in Japan compares the routes, including what to do with coins sitting on an offshore exchange or in your own wallet.
Can tourists buy crypto in Japan?
Not through a Japanese exchange, in practice. Domestic exchanges verify a Japanese address and serve residents, and a short-term visitor has no residence card. That leaves a handful of options, each with clear limits.
| Option | What it does | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| International platform with a foreign card | Buy crypto with your home-country Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay or Google Pay | Sign up as a resident of a country the platform supports, using your home ID. Japan residents are not eligible. |
| Gaia crypto ATMs (Tokyo, Osaka) | Sell BTC or ETH for yen banknotes as a guest | Guests need an IC-chip passport and a phone that receives SMS. Buying needs prior registration, so it is impractical on a short trip. |
| Binance Pay at PayPay merchants | Pay in shops from an overseas Binance account | Live since 30 September 2026 for overseas users only; the shop receives yen. Japan residents are excluded. |
| A crypto card from home | Spend at merchants that accept the card network | Depends entirely on your issuer’s rules for travel. Each spend may be taxable at home. |
| Japanese exchange account | Not realistic for short-term visitors | Domestic exchanges serve residents and verify a Japanese address. Visitors on a short stay do not receive a residence card. |
The most flexible option for most visitors is an international platform that serves their home country and accepts foreign cards. CEX.IO is one example: it is registered as a money services business with FinCEN in the US, licensed as a money transmitter in many US states and registered as a cryptoasset business with the FCA in the UK, and it accepts Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay. It is not registered with Japan's FSA, does not support yen, and lists Japan among its unsupported countries, so it is for visitors and non-residents signing up as residents of a supported country, not for people who live in Japan.
If you are already carrying crypto, two Japan-specific routes help. Gaia, an FSA-registered exchange, runs crypto ATMs in Akihabara (Tokyo) and in Namba and Nishi-ku (Osaka) where visitors can sell BTC or ETH for yen notes as guests, with limits; details and hours are in our crypto ATM guide and the Tokyo and Osaka city pages. And since 30 September 2026, overseas Binance Pay users can pay at PayPay merchants across Japan, with the shop receiving yen. For everything else, a card is the practical path: see crypto cards in Japan, the Crypto.com card in Japan and where to spend crypto in Japan.
What happens to the exchange account you used back home?
If you move to Japan, check your existing accounts. Several large global exchanges have stepped back from Japan residents after FSA warnings. Binance's global platform stopped serving them on 1 December 2023, and accounts not moved to the registered Binance Japan became withdraw-only. Bybit ended trading for Japan residents in 2026. Bitget stopped new Japanese sign-ups in August 2026 and switches Japan-resident accounts to close-only from 1 November 2026. Our offshore exchange tracker lists who left and when.
Moving coins from an overseas exchange into a Japanese one is usually possible, but the Travel RuleAn anti-money-laundering rule: exchanges must pass the sender's and recipient's identity data along with crypto transfers between them. adds steps. Japanese exchanges must exchange sender and recipient data with the other platform, some routes fail because the two use different messaging systems, and you will be asked who owns the sending account or wallet. Many people send to their own wallet first and then on to the Japanese exchange, declaring the wallet as theirs at each step; our wallet guide explains the declarations involved.
How is crypto taxed for foreign residents?
If you are tax resident in Japan, crypto gains are generally miscellaneous income雑所得 (zatsu shotoku): the catch-all income category where Japan currently taxes most individual crypto gains, added to salary at progressive rates., added to your salary and taxed at progressive rates: 5–45% national income tax plus 10% resident tax, up to 55% combined. Selling for yen, swapping one coin for another and paying for things with crypto are all taxable events. Salaried workers paid by one employer usually do not need to file a national tax return if their side income is ¥200,000 or less, though a resident-tax declaration may still be needed. A 20% flat rate has been legislated but can start in 2028 at the earliest; see our Japan crypto tax guide and 20% reform explainer.
Foreign nationals in their first years in Japan may be non-permanent residents非永住者 (hi-eijūsha): a tax resident who is not a Japanese national and has lived in Japan for five years or less in the past ten. Some foreign income is taxed only if paid in or remitted to Japan. for tax purposes, which changes how some foreign-source income is taxed. How that applies to crypto held on overseas platforms is a technical question with real money at stake, so ask a licensed tax accountant (税理士, zeirishi). Our guide to moving to or leaving Japan with crypto goes through residency status in more detail.
What happens to your crypto when you leave Japan?
Plan your exit before you book the flight. Japanese exchanges generally serve residents, so once you move abroad you may be asked to close your account. Do the selling or withdrawing while you still have a Japanese bank account, because without one you cannot get yen out. If you want to keep your coins, send them to your own wallet or to an exchange in your next country, allowing time for Travel Rule checks.
Japan's exit tax on departure applies to people holding ¥100 million or more in specified financial assets, and crypto is not on that list. That could change once crypto becomes an FIEA instrument, so check the latest rules close to your departure. Finally, never sell or hand over your Japanese bank or exchange account when you leave. It is a crime, and police have noted rising cases of foreign students selling their accounts to people who use them to move scam proceeds. Our guide to crypto scams in Japan explains how those recruiters operate.
Crypto for foreigners in Japan: FAQ
Can foreigners buy crypto in Japan?
Yes, if you live here. Foreign residents with a residence card, a registered Japanese address and a bank account in their own name can open accounts at FSA-registered exchanges. Nationality is not the deciding factor; residence and identity verification are, and each exchange sets its own detailed rules.
Can tourists buy crypto in Japan?
Not through a Japanese exchange in practice, because domestic exchanges verify a Japanese address and short-term visitors do not get a residence card. Visitors usually buy before or during their trip on an international platform that serves their home country, using a foreign card. Gaia’s ATMs let guests sell crypto for yen, but not buy.
Do I need a My Number card to open a crypto account?
Not always today. Residence cards are accepted for identity checks, and the My Number card is one of several options. But Japan is moving online ID checks toward IC-chip and My Number card methods, and some exchanges, such as Zaif, have announced My Number card-only verification, so getting the card is a good idea.
Why does a Japanese exchange ask for my foreign tax number?
Because of CARF, the OECD crypto reporting framework. Since 1 January 2026 everyone opening an account at a Japanese exchange must declare their tax residence, and a tax identification number for any foreign country where they are tax resident. Information on foreign tax residents is shared with their home tax authority via the National Tax Agency.
Can US citizens open a crypto account in Japan?
We could not verify a current, published US-person policy for each Japanese exchange, so ask support before you apply. Whatever the exchange decides, US citizens stay subject to US tax on worldwide income and should declare US tax residence where the form asks for all tax residences.
What happens to my Japanese crypto account if I leave Japan?
Japanese exchanges generally serve people who live in Japan; bitbank, for example, does not accept individuals living outside Japan. Plan to sell or withdraw before you go, while you still have a Japanese bank account. Crypto is not on the list of assets covered by Japan’s exit tax.
Sources
- FSA: Register of crypto-asset exchange service providers (Japanese, PDF)
- National Tax Agency: CARF overview (Japanese)
- National Tax Agency: Crypto-asset tax FAQ (Japanese, PDF)
- National Tax Agency: Exit tax on departure, No.1478 (Japanese)
- PayPay: Identity verification (eKYC) guide (Japanese)
- bitbank: Help centre (English)
- CEX.IO: Legal and security
- CEX.IO: Unsupported countries and territories
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