Disclaimer: read this before you act on anything here

What kind of information is on this site?

CryptoJapan.asia is an independent resource with general information about buying, using and declaring crypto in Japan. We are not an exchange, we don't buy or sell crypto for anyone, and nothing on the site is a solicitation to buy a particular coin or use a particular service.

Is this financial, tax or legal advice?

No. Nothing here is financial, investment, tax or legal advice. The right decision and tax treatment depend on your income, residence status, visa and holding period. Before you trade or file, ask your local tax office or a licensed tax accountant (zeirishi) about tax, and a lawyer about legal questions. Investment decisions are yours to make.

Our Japan crypto tax guide and moving to or leaving Japan with crypto explain the rules in general terms only.

What are the main risks of crypto?

Crypto is not a bank deposit, and nobody guarantees what you put in. The main risks:

• Price swings. Prices can fall sharply in a short time and you can lose part or all of what you paid.
• Hacks and failures. Even FSA-registered exchanges get hacked: about ¥48.2 billion of Bitcoin was stolen from DMM Bitcoin in May 2024.
• Irreversible transfers. Send coins to the wrong address or network and they are usually gone for good. Lose your private keyThe secret code that controls a crypto wallet. Anyone who has it can move the coins. or seed phraseA list of 12 or 24 words that can restore a wallet. Whoever holds it controls the funds. and the same applies.
• Scams. Fake investment groups on social media and LINE, romance scams and look-alike exchange sites are common in Japan.
• Leverage. Japanese exchanges cap retail leverageTrading with more money than you deposited. Gains and losses grow with the multiple. at 2x, but leveraged losses still grow fast and positions can be closed automatically in a sharp move.
• Rule changes. Japan enacted a law in July 2026 that moves crypto under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, and crypto tax is being reformed. Rules you rely on today may change.

Our crypto scams guide shows the patterns to watch for.

How accurate is the information?

We work from primary sources (the FSA register, official fee pages, National Tax Agency material) and explain our process on the how we review page. Even so, fees, coin lists, promotions, laws and tax rules change without notice, and a page can fall behind.

We can't guarantee that the information is accurate, complete or current, so confirm the latest details on the official site or government page before you trade or file. To the extent the law allows, we are not responsible for losses that result from using information on this site. If you spot an error, please let us know.

What about links to other websites?

We link to regulators, industry bodies, exchanges and other sites. Their content and services are their own responsibility, and a link guarantees nothing on the other side. All outbound links on this site carry rel="nofollow".

Where do the buy buttons lead?

The buy buttons on this site lead to CEX.IO, an international crypto platform. CEX.IO is registered with FinCEN in the US as a money services business, is licensed as a money transmitter in many US states, and is registered with the UK's FCA as a cryptoasset business. It accepts Visa and Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay.

CEX.IO is not registered with Japan's Financial Services Agency and does not support Japanese yen. Japan is on its list of unsupported countries and territories, so it is not available to Japan residents. The buttons are there for visitors to Japan and people living abroad who pay with a foreign-issued card.

How do I check whether an exchange is registered?

Make it a habit before you send money anywhere. It takes two minutes:

1. Open the register

   Download the FSA's register of crypto-asset exchange service providers (Japanese PDF).

2. Match the company and number

   Look for the operating company's legal name, not just the app's brand, and a registration number such as "Kanto Local Finance Bureau No. 000XX" (関東財務局長 第000XX号).

3. Check the warning list

   The FSA also publishes names of unregistered operators it has warned. If a platform is on it, stay away.

For the background on offshore platforms that left Japan or were warned, see offshore exchanges and Japan.

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