OKCoin Gains Japanese License to Operate Crypto Exchange

Monday, 30/03/2020 | 17:03 GMT by Arnab Shome
  • The exchange will “soon” launch services to both retail and institutional traders.
OKCoin Gains Japanese License to Operate Crypto Exchange
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OkCoin Japan announced on Monday that it registered itself with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau as a virtual currency Exchange .

With this, the Japanese subsidiary of the OK Group can now legally offer crypto exchange services in the East Asian country under its Payments Services Act.

Japan mandated licensing of all digital asset exchanges operating within its borders following the security breach of Coincheck, which resulted in the theft of $535 million in cryptocurrency.

The incident also pushed the exchanges to form a self-regulatory body called the Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association (JVCEA), which worked hand-in-hand with the Financial Services Agency (FSA) in drafting the country’s crypto regulations.

Serving both retail and institutional traders

Though the exchange did not specify any launch date for its Japanese operation, it mentioned that the services would be started “soon” for both “individual and corporate customers in Japan.”

The press release detailed that the Japanese subsidiary had already built a “secure, stable, and robust service environment” for offering digital currency exchange services. The platform is also touting its know-you-customer (KYC) and “dynamic” risk profiling capabilities.

“OKCoin Japan also has developed and implemented proprietary AML/CFT technologies such as automated transaction filtering and monitoring systems as part of its effort to combat illicit activities in the crypto industry,” the exchange noted.

Though Japan is one of the largest crypto markets, the presence of strict licensing keeps even the major global exchanges away from the country.

Major tech and financial companies like Line and Rakuten also operated virtual currency exchange in Japan with proper licensing from the market regulator.

Finance Magnates earlier reported the addition of Coinbase as a class-two member to the JVCEA, signaling the US giant’s efforts to launch services in Japan.

OkCoin Japan announced on Monday that it registered itself with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau as a virtual currency Exchange .

With this, the Japanese subsidiary of the OK Group can now legally offer crypto exchange services in the East Asian country under its Payments Services Act.

Japan mandated licensing of all digital asset exchanges operating within its borders following the security breach of Coincheck, which resulted in the theft of $535 million in cryptocurrency.

The incident also pushed the exchanges to form a self-regulatory body called the Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association (JVCEA), which worked hand-in-hand with the Financial Services Agency (FSA) in drafting the country’s crypto regulations.

Serving both retail and institutional traders

Though the exchange did not specify any launch date for its Japanese operation, it mentioned that the services would be started “soon” for both “individual and corporate customers in Japan.”

The press release detailed that the Japanese subsidiary had already built a “secure, stable, and robust service environment” for offering digital currency exchange services. The platform is also touting its know-you-customer (KYC) and “dynamic” risk profiling capabilities.

“OKCoin Japan also has developed and implemented proprietary AML/CFT technologies such as automated transaction filtering and monitoring systems as part of its effort to combat illicit activities in the crypto industry,” the exchange noted.

Though Japan is one of the largest crypto markets, the presence of strict licensing keeps even the major global exchanges away from the country.

Major tech and financial companies like Line and Rakuten also operated virtual currency exchange in Japan with proper licensing from the market regulator.

Finance Magnates earlier reported the addition of Coinbase as a class-two member to the JVCEA, signaling the US giant’s efforts to launch services in Japan.

About the Author: Arnab Shome
Arnab Shome
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Arnab is an electronics engineer-turned-financial editor. He entered the industry covering the cryptocurrency market for Finance Magnates and later expanded his reach to forex as well. He is passionate about the changing regulatory landscape on financial markets and keenly follows the disruptions in the industry with new-age technologies.

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