Japan issues first crypto exchange license in four years
Laser Digital, the digital asset subsidiary of Japan’s Nomura Group, has received authorization to provide crypto exchange services under Japan’s Payment Services Act (PSA). It became the first crypto platform in four years to receive such a license.
According to a list published Friday by Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA), the last company to receive regulatory approval before this was Binance Japan in October 2022.
Laser Digital co-founder and CEO Jez Mohideen said Japan’s crypto market is entering a “new phase of maturity.” According to him, growing interest from institutional investors is creating demand for trusted counterparties and infrastructure.
Changes in Japan’s crypto regulation
The license comes amid a major overhaul of cryptocurrency regulation in Japan. In July, the country’s parliament approved amendments that classify crypto assets as financial assets under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA).
Once the new rules take effect, regulation of crypto transactions will gradually shift away from the PSA, where digital assets are currently treated primarily as payment instruments, toward the country’s broader financial market framework. The amendments also introduce insider trading rules and tighter oversight of crypto companies.
The new provisions are expected to take effect on a date set by the Japanese government, but no later than one year after the amendments were officially promulgated on July 23.
In January, Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said authorities intended to bring crypto regulation closer to the rules governing traditional financial markets so that citizens could make broader use of digital and blockchain-based assets.
Which exchanges operate in Japan
Japan’s cryptocurrency market is already well developed, although only companies registered with the regulator are allowed to operate in the country. Currently, the Financial Services Agency lists 27 crypto asset exchange service providers. Among the best known are bitFlyer, bitbank, GMO Coin, SBI VC Trade, Coincheck, Rakuten Wallet, Binance Japan, OKCoin Japan and Zaif.
At the same time, Japan’s market had seen almost no new entrants for years. Binance Japan was registered in October 2022 and remained the most recent newly licensed platform for nearly four years. Laser Digital ended that pause on August 21, 2026, receiving authorization to handle Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin and Shiba Inu.
As a reminder, Japan and South Korea will be connected by a payment network for digital currencies.
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