This year, Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world, faced significant regulatory scrutiny in various countries, resulting in actions and lawsuits against the platform. However, Japan has shown a more welcoming approach to this exchange and is embracing its presence. Recently, it was officially confirmed that Binance Japan will launch in August.
Changpeng Zhao, the CEO and founder of Binance, made an appearance via video at a conference in Tokyo to announce that all services on the platform will become operational starting next month. Earlier in April, Sakura Exchange BitCoin (SEBC), a platform acquired by this exchange, revealed its plans to introduce a new service called Binance Japan, with the expected debut after June. Subsequently, it was disclosed that SEBC would cease its current services by May 31 and undergo a rebranding process to become Binance Japan.
Notably, the exchange has been absent from the Japanese market for approximately five years. However, during CZ’s recent appearance at the conference, he expressed his admiration for Japan, including its cuisine, people, and environment. He also commended the country for being a leader in the Web3 regulatory landscape.
Moreover, the cryptocurrency trade volume in the region witnessed a significant 60% surge last month compared to the beginning of 2023. With Binance’s upcoming entry into the Japanese market next month, it is expected that this move will further bolster the trading volume in the region, solidifying Japan’s position as a major player in the cryptocurrency industry.
A Sneak Peek into Binance Japan’s Offerings
SEBC users will be required to register with Binance Japan, and the migration process will become accessible from August 1, 2023. This procedure will involve a new identity verification system to comply with local regulations. Binance has previously announced that any remaining funds held on the SEBC exchange will be automatically converted into Japanese yen and then transferred to users’ bank accounts.
Moreover, Binance clarified that it will not be offering derivative services in Japan. Consequently, Japanese users will not have access to the derivative services available on the global platform. Residents in Japan who were using the global platform had until June 9 to either increase or initiate new options positions. After this date, such actions were no longer permitted, and the exchange emphasized that pending orders would be canceled. Users were strongly advised to close all existing positions before June 23. Additionally, Binance Leveraged Tokens will not be available for trading or subscription in Japan. Nonetheless, the exchange expressed its future intentions, stating:
“In the future, we plan to continue enriching our service offerings in Japan and will work closely with regulators to possibly provide derivatives services in a fully compliant manner.”