Yuzo Kano, the co-founder of Japan-based cryptocurrency exchange bitFlyer, is seeking to reinstate himself as CEO in a shareholders meeting next month, in an apparent bid to reinvigorate what he claims is a stagnating firm. Kano resigned in 2019 following a series of management disputes but is now determined to reinvigorate the crypto firm and lead it toward an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in the coming months, according to a Feb. 26 report by Bloomberg. The former CEO also said he also wants to put Japan back on the map in the world of cryptocurrency. “I will make it capable …

According to research by Messari, the top three online brokerage firms in Japan are experiencing surging revenue from their cryptocurrency exchange services. In its Asian Crypto Landscape report, Messari noted the operating revenue and net worth of exchange platforms operated by Japan’s top securities brokers is quickly catching up to that of their crypto-native rivals. Messari researcher Mira Christanto tweeted that Japan’s three-largest brokers by customer deposits — SBI, Rakuten, and Monex — all operate crypto exchange platforms. Christanto also noted that many large asset managers are lobbying Japanese lawmakers to allow them to offer expanded cryptocurrency services and products, …

The European subsidiary of bitFlyer, one of the largest Japanese cryptocurrency exchanges,has integrated PayPal deposits to their platforms. The official announcement calls bitFlyer’s integration with the internet payment giant a significant move in bridging the gap between the fiat and cryptocurrency world for European users. While bitFlyer Europe already supports wire card transfers, it takes between one to three days for clearance. The integration of PayPal is expected to make deposits almost instant. bitFlyer Europe users will now be able to directly deposit euros to their wallet to trade cryptocurrencies, bitFlyer Europe business strategy manager Jacek Bastin told Cointelegraph. He …

People in their 20s and 30s now appear to make up the majority of crypto traders worldwide. This represents a shift away from previous numbers, which indicated not so long ago that people in their 30s and 40s made up Blockchain’s main demographic. According to a Sept. 7 report from BitFlyer, the biggest crypto exchange in Japan by trading volume, the ratio of its users in their 20s doubled in the EU, Japan, and the United States compared to data from 2018. In the U.S., BitFlyer traders in their 20s made up 14% of all users who signed up for …

BitFlyer USA, the American branch of Tokyo-based cryptocurrency exchange BitFlyer, unveiled upcoming compatibility in the U.S. state of Hawaii. "We chose Hawaii due to the regulatory sandbox for digital currency they set up," BitFlyer COO Joel Edgerton told Cointelegraph. "We also chose Hawaii due to close links between the state and Japan," he added. "Our name recognition is particularly high in Hawaii.” Hawaii’s Division of Financial Institutions and its Technology Development Corporation constructed the Digital Currency Innovation Lab — the gateway used to bring BitFlyer into the state, said an Aug. 19 statement BitFlyer provided to Cointelegraph. In its initial …

Japanese users will soon be able to earn Basic Attention Token (BAT) by viewing Brave ads. On July 30, major Japanese cryptocurrency exchange BitFlyer partnered with Brave Software International SEZC, a subsidiary of Brave Software — the maker of the crypto-enabled browser Brave. Within the partnership, the firms co-developed a crypto asset wallet in the Brave browser that allows Japanese users to receive BAT for viewing Brave ads. Japanese Brave users will also be able to buy or sell BAT on BitFlyer as well as tip BAT to publishers and content creators. While several exchanges in Japan support BAT — …

BitFlyer Holdings, which runs one of Japan's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, held its general shareholders meeting Friday and, for the first time, used a blockchain voting app. In the “new normal” where social distancing is required, blockchain technology finds another use case. The voting app, called bVote, was developed by BitFlyer’s subsidiary BitFlyer Blockchain. It allowed the first virtual shareholder meeting to end “as scheduled without any troubles.” The app prevents vote forgery and manipulation and requires users to scan their My Number card (similar to Social Security Number in the United States) for identification. BitFlyer aims to introduce the app …

This week’s headlines from Japan included SBI announcing a digital asset investment fund, Bitflyer Holdings using blockchain for shareholder meeting voting, Japan's Financial Services Agency warning two unregistered crypto exchanges, a Japanese digital asset exchange self-regulatory group changing chairmen, and Coincheck announcing launch details for its digital shareholder meeting platform. Check out some of this week’s crypto and blockchain headlines, originally reported by Cointelegraph Japan. SBI unveils a crypto investment fund As an option for individual participants, Japanese financial services entity SBI Holdings expects to form and open Japan's first digital asset fund at some point over the next few …

Tokai Tokyo Financial Holdings, one of the major traditional Japanese financial institutions, has unveiled a plan to develop a security token exchange. Tokai Tokyo is already an investor in Huobi Japan. According to Nikkei, as the first step in the journey, Tokai Tokyo is investing in blockchain company Hash Dash Holdings to leverage the company’s knowledge to develop the exchange. Hash Dash aims to apply blockchain technology to the financial industry for issuing digital securities and providing a trading service on smartphones. The planned exchange will trade in tokenized real estate, and Tokai Tokyo, Hash Dash and ICHX TECH will …

Japan's most famous idol just became the face of bitFlyer, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the country. Asuka Saito is one of the most popular members of Nogizaka 46, a leading idol group in Japan consisting of 46 girls. Debuted in 2011, it started as a sister group of AKB 48, the then-most popular idol unit. They have attracted many fans since then, and in 2017 and 2018 they won the Japan Record Award, the most prestigious award for musicians in the country. Idols are a type of performer unique to Japan, who are marketed and cultivated for …

The blockchain arm of Japan-based bitFlyer Holdings is debuting a new app for shareholder voting. According to an announcement by bitFlyer Blockchain, the new app — dubbed bVote — aims to allow Japanese corporations to conduct general shareholders meetings without requiring anyone to physically attend. Per bitFlyer, the app will be able to prevent vote forgery and manipulation and requires users to scan their My Number card (similar to Social Security Number in the United States) for identification. The firm will purportedly put its tech to the test at its own shareholder meeting on June 26. Using blockchain to prevent …

This week’s headlines from Japan included GMO Coin exchange polling customers on their view of digital assets, Lisk opening a base in Japan, Bitflyer showing 2019 net losses, blockchain startup LayerX securing significant funding, and two entities reported successful collaborative blockchain-based securities experiments. Check out some of this week’s crypto and blockchain headlines, originally reported by Cointelegraph Japan. GMO Coin users pick Bitcoin over XRP GMO Coin, a crypto exchange under Japanese tech outfit GMO, conducted a poll, asking users which crypto asset they think holds the most promising future. Out of 1,578 polled exchange users, 47% put Bitcoin as …