Kraken cryptocurrency exchange suspends all service in Japan

Avatar
Andrew Munro
Posted: 18 April 2018 3:30 pm
News

Kraken may have been driven out, temporarily, by rising compliance expenses.

Kraken is one of the world's oldest cryptocurrency exchanges, and it has taken in millions in financing from Japanese investors over the years. Now it's withdrawing from the country, CCN reports.

"Suspending services for Japan residents will allow us to better focus on our resources to improve in other geographical areas. This is a localized suspension of service that only affects residents of Japan and does not impact services for Japanese citizens or businesses domiciled outside of Japan," Kraken announced.

The exit is most likely to due to rising regulatory costs, which might outweigh the gains in that particular market. It's not the first time Kraken has been left in this position, and previously it has been forced out of specific US states for the same reason.

Japan is currently in a state of tightening cryptocurrency regulations, with other exchanges like Binance receiving unwelcome notices of their own. In response, Binance said that it was working with Japan's regulators to get in line with national laws, and criticised the prominent Nikkei news outlet for jumping the gun on releasing a piece saying that Binance was being kicked out.

Despite the tightening regulatory lens over the islands, Japan remains one of the world's most crypto-keen countries.

Japan's MUFG banking giant previously started moving into the cryptocurrency space, and the government and other financial institutions have made moves to embrace the tech in a sensible fashion. And as of February 2018, the Japanese yen accounted for more than half of all the fiat currency to be transferred into bitcoin.

Japan got early exposure to bitcoin and cryptocurrency, with one of the world's then-largest exchanges, Mt Gox, being based in Tokyo. The exchange went under following a disastrous hack attack years ago, but the hundreds of thousands of bitcoin held on the exchange at the time are still in Japan.

Disclosure: At the time of writing the author holds ETH, IOTA, ICX, VEN, XLM, BTC, NANO

Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of cryptocurrency or any specific provider, service or offering. It is not a recommendation to trade. Cryptocurrencies are speculative, complex and involve significant risks – they are highly volatile and sensitive to secondary activity. Performance is unpredictable and past performance is no guarantee of future performance. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before relying on this information. You should also verify the nature of any product or service (including its legal status and relevant regulatory requirements) and consult the relevant Regulators' websites before making any decision. Finder, or the author, may have holdings in the cryptocurrencies discussed.

Latest cryptocurrency news

Picture: Shutterstock

Latest crypto guides

Ask an Expert

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Terms of Use, Disclaimer & Privacy Policy and Privacy & Cookies Policy.

Latest headlines

Go to site