The number of cryptocurrency and blockchain-related companies in Japan increased by more than 30% this year. Monex Group's Monex Crypto Bank told Cointelegraph Japan on June 30 that there are 430 crypto and blockchain-related companies in Japan as of May 2020. This represents a 30.7% jump from the 329 companies reported in July 2019. The data is part of the “Blockchain Data Book 2020” that Monex Crypto Bank released on Wednesday, detailing the conditions of the Japanese blockchain industry. Monex Group runs Coincheck, one of the biggest crypto exchanges in Japan. Many firms have a primary focus on blockchain and …

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 …

Regulators in Japan may be more inclined to approve new virtual currencies for trading if they have greater financial transparency and aren’t involved in gambling Dapps. According to a new report from Xangle Research on Japanese digital asset regulations, the country's financial watchdog, the Financial Services Agency (FSA), specifically says crypto firms may be approved if they do not support decentralized applications (Dapps) with gambling or anonymous features. In particular, Xangle named Quantum (QTUM), the cryptocurrency recently made available for trading on Japanese crypto exchange Coincheck, as satisfying three essential requirements by the country's self-regulatory group, the Japan Crypto Asset …

This week’s headlines from Japan included Japan's minister of finance spurring conversation on crypto terminology, Merkle Science joining the Japan Security Token Association, Fobi Japan listing its own token, and Coincheck unveiling a digital meeting and voting solution. Check out some of this week’s crypto and blockchain headlines, originally reported by Cointelegraph Japan. Japanese politician talks about crypto terminology confusion Taro Aso, Japan's minster of finance, recently labeled cryptocurrency terminology as confusing, singling out the term "cryptographic assets" specifically. Industry conversation on suitable phrasing followed. A social media poll from Cointelegraph Japan showed the public's majority vote for the term …

This week’s headlines from Japan included Coincheck updating the public on a recent data leak, a blockchain tech outfit unveiling plans for a digital local currency, BitBank facing a breach similar to Coincheck, the Japan STO Association gaining its first full-time trust bank member, and Japan achieving the second highest 24-hour Bitcoin trading volume numbers for May. Check out some of this week’s crypto and blockchain headlines, originally reported by Cointelegraph Japan. Coincheck updates public on user data leak Tokyo-based crypto exchange Coincheck faced a hack between May 30 and June 1, leading to hundreds of users' leaked data. The …

Major Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Coincheck has suffered a data breach involving unauthorized access to the platform’s domain registration service. Coincheck is one of the world’s oldest crypto exchanges. They suffered a $500 million hack in 2018, which is considered to be the biggest crypto theft in history. The exchange has now encountered another apparent attack that could lead to customers’ personal data and emails being leaked, Cointelegraph Japan reports June 2. Deposits and withdrawals operate while remittances are halted Announcing the incident on Tuesday, Coincheck said that the breach had “no impact on the customer's assets” this time. However, Coincheck …

This week’s headlines from Japan included Mitsui & Co. Digital Asset Management kicking off its security token project, Coincheck's fiat exchange listing seven altcoins, FXCoin unveiling physical crypto trading and XRP remittance testing plans, and GMO Coin listing three more altcoins. Check out some of this week’s crypto and blockchain headlines, originally reported by Cointelegraph Japan. Security token company tests security tokens in real estate Looking to create blockchain-based security tokens, Mitsui & Co. Digital Asset Management, daughter of Japanese product and material trading giant, Mitsui & Co., recently kicked off an initiative called the "Digital Securities Project." As part …

This week’s headlines from Japan included GMO Coin unveiling Basic Attention Token (BAT) lending, Nitori using blockchain for furniture logistics, blockchain solution outfit, Ginco, receiving funding from DBJ Capital, Japan's stay at home order impacting crypto businesses, and a representative from the Japan Restoration Association questioning crypto taxes. Check out some of this week’s crypto and blockchain headlines, originally reported by Cointelegraph Japan. GMO Coin exchange announces BAT lending In an April 10 statement, Japanese crypto exchange, GMO Coin, unveiled lending features for Brave Browser's Basic Attention Token (BAT). The new capability means customers can lend their BAT to other …

This week’s headlines from Japan included Bitbank adding smartphone compatibility for identity verification, Fobi Japan announcing leverage trading, Coincheck announcing order limits, Rakuten Wallet announcing margin trading, and product trading company Marubeni testing blockchain for tracing steel pipes. Check out some of this week’s crypto and blockchain headlines, originally reported by Cointelegraph Japan. BitBank launches smartphone ID verification Japan-based crypto exchange, BitBank, recently added smartphone compatibility for its Know Your Customer, or KYC, practices. Using their smartphone cameras, customers can now snap pictures themselves and related required paperwork for verification. At present, BitBank is only compatible with Apple’s iOS, although …

Japanese financial services firm Monex — the company behind crypto exchange Coincheck — announced that it will give Bitcoin (BTC) to its shareholders as a year-end benefit for 2019. According to an announcement on March 23, Monex plans to give to its shareholders 500 yen worth ($4.53) to those who hold the firm’s shares as of March 31 as a year-end benefit for 2019 in addition to existing shareholder benefit. The company will give the Bitcoin to those shareholders who hold an account on cryptocurrency wallet Coincheck. The announcement suggests that this may be a one-time event: “Please note that …

Tokyo police arrested two men in connection to the Coincheck hack on March 11. The men are accused of purchasing stolen NEM (XEM) through a dark web market, in violation of a law designed to tackle organized crime. As reported by Japan Times on March 11, Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department arrested a doctor from Hokkaido and a company executive from the Osaka Prefecture. According to the police, the suspects knew the origin of the funds. They reportedly purchased the XEM at a sizeable discount in February and March 2018 from a dark web website. The suspects were allegedly apprehended through …

This week’s headlines from Japan include crypto exchange Zaif reopening account registrations, government agencies meeting on crypto, the Federation of Economic Affairs submitting a national Blockchain proposal, Coincheck adding Qtum, and Rakuten Wallet opening leverage trading account registration. Check out some of this week’s crypto and blockchain headlines, originally reported by Cointelegraph Japan. Zaif crypto exchange reopens account registration after hack Japanese crypto exchange Zaif opened its doors once again for new account registrations, starting on March 6. Hackers pilfered more that $63 million in crypto from the platform in 2018. After the hack, the company announced deposit and withdrawal …