Japan | Crypto

Ripple and SBI announced the official launch of RLUSD in Japan on June 24, following JFSA approval, with the stablecoin available to institutional and retail users through SBI VC Trade. Ripple categorized RLUSD under Japan's Payment Services Act as a new type of electronic payment instrument for foreign-issued stablecoins, the first time the company has […] The post Ripple got RLUSD into Japan, now the stablecoin race begins as Circle and Nomura join appeared first on CryptoSlate.

JPYSC officially launches today, Japan's first yen stablecoin, issued by SBI Shinsei Trust Bank and distributed through SBI VC Trade. The post SBI Group Launches JPYSC, Japan’s First Trust Bank-Backed Yen Stablecoin appeared first on Cryptonews.

The Bank of Japan raised its benchmark interest rate to 1% on June 16, the highest level the country has seen since September 1995 and the furthest point yet in a normalization campaign that has slowly dismantled three decades of near-free money. Going into the decision, the track record pointed one way: every one of […] The post Bitcoin shrugged off Japan’s rate hike – The bigger liquidity test came from Washington appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Japan’s highest rates since 1995 are putting global liquidity back in focus as traders anticipate 26%–38% BTC price declines. Bitcoin (BTC) risked wiping out its Iran truce gains and returning toward the $60,000 psychological support as the Bank of Japan (BoJ) raised its interest rates to their highest level in 30 years. Key takeaways: BTC has averaged a 5.74% decline in the 30 days after the last four BoJ rate hikes. Read more

Bitcoin's current relief rally is built on the back of the framework agreement between the US and Iran to halt their conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which sent Brent crude down roughly 5% to $82.95 and rippled through every asset that trades on inflation expectations. Bitcoin registered an intraday high of nearly $67,300 […] The post Bitcoin’s Iran rally faces Japan rate test as it weighs 31-year high appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The Bank of Japan raised its key interest rate by 25 basis points to 1%, the highest level since 1995.

Japanese crypto exchange Bitbank warns users of possible account suspensions for Polymarket-linked transactions, citing Japan’s gambling laws. Bitbank, one of Japan’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, warned users that transactions linked to prediction market platforms such as Polymarket could result in account suspensions due to potential conflicts with the country's gambling laws. In a notice published on Monday, Bitbank said it may restrict accounts making deposits or withdrawals connected to prediction market services. The warning highlights the regulatory uncertainty surrounding prediction markets in Japan, where local gambling laws may complicate Polymarket's previously stated interest in expanding into the country. Read more

Iran peace pumps Bitcoin as Japan pushes crypto ETF yet Whitehouse UFC appears dubious amid Trump crypto hype. The post Crypto News, June 15: Iran Peace Deal Roars Bitcoin, Japan $6.4 Billion Crypto ETF Market, WLFI and White House UFC Match appeared first on Cryptonews.

SBI Shinsei Bank is reportedly offering crypto deposit rewards to customers, with vouchers worth 20% of their interest payments redeemable for BTC, ETH, or XRP through SBI VC Trade. A three-month campaign launched on June 10, with a broader rollout planned for fall, covering ordinary deposits and time deposits from three months to five years, […] The post Japan’s SBI is using XRP to solve a banking problem appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Japan’s Lower House reportedly passed a bill that would bring crypto under the country’s financial instruments framework, potentially opening the door to ETFs and lower tax treatment. Japan’s Lower House reportedly passed a bill that would bring crypto assets under the country’s financial instruments framework, potentially opening a path to exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and lower tax treatment for digital assets.  The bill would move crypto assets closer to the regulatory treatment of stocks and bonds by subjecting them to stricter trading rules, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. The legislation is expected to take effect next year after going through the Upper House.  The proposed changes could lower the capital gains tax on crypto assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) from a current maximum of 55% to a 20% flat rate, in line with stocks and bonds. The tax change is expected to take effect in 2028. Read more

Japan is moving to regulate cryptocurrencies like stocks, with lower taxes, stricter trading rules, and possible ETF listings on the horizon. 

Bitcoin’s average price response to Bank of Japan rate hikes was a 22.5% sell-off. Will BOJ’s upcoming policy decision trigger another BTC price crash? Since 2024, Bitcoin (BTC) has posted four major corrections after interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan (BOJ), with declines ranging from 18% to 28%. This dynamic places renewed attention on the BOJ's June 16 policy decision.  Data currently point to a variety of pressures on BTC, with BTC whale distribution and exchange inflows possibly carrying more weight than Japanese monetary policy.   The relationship between BOJ policy and Bitcoin has gained attention because each rate increase since Japan ended its negative interest rate policy has been followed by a sizable correction.  Read more

SBI will give out vouchers that can be redeemed for Bitcoin, Ether or XRP through SBI VC Trade, linking bank savings with the group’s crypto exchange arm. SBI Shinsei Bank will reportedly launch a service that rewards deposit customers with cryptocurrency exchange vouchers based on their account balances. According to a Nikkei report, customers will receive vouchers equal to 20% of their interest payments, in addition to their yen-denominated interest. The vouchers can be exchanged for Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH) or XRP within a specified period.  Customers would need to open an account with SBI's crypto exchange arm, SBI VC Trade, to redeem the vouchers. Read more

The Parliamentary Association for the Promotion of Blockchain delivered recommendations to Japan’s finance minister on crypto and blockchain. A group of lawmakers within Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are seeking reforms to the country's cryptocurrency taxation system, as well as support for initiatives for the development and adoption of yen-denominated stablecoins. According to a Monday Nada News report, the LDP’s Parliamentary Association for the Promotion of Blockchain delivered recommendations to Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, including provisions on stablecoins, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and applications for blockchain technology. The document proposes doubling the leverage cap for retail cryptocurrency derivatives trading and establishing a framework for ETFs tied to digital assets. Read more

Prediction market Polymarket eyes Japan entry, Harvard sells off its Ethereum holdings, and other news: Hodler’s Digest

Polymarket is reportedly seeking entry into Japan amid falling trading volumes and rising regulatory scrutiny, targeting approval by 2030. Polymarket, a global prediction market platform, is reportedly seeking entry into Japan amid growing regulatory scrutiny of the sector worldwide. The company has appointed Mike Eidlin, head of Japan at crypto firm Jupiter, to lead its local efforts and is preparing to lobby for authorization of prediction markets in the country, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Polymarket is targeting government approval in Japan by 2030, viewing the market as a major untapped opportunity. Read more

Mike Eidlin, head of Japan at cryptocurrency exchange Jupiter, is leading Polymarket's efforts, according to reports.

Japan is executing the most consequential crypto pivot in Asia. Once taxing crypto gains at up to 55%, the country has now recognized stablecoins. The post Japan’s Crypto Revolution: 20% Tax Rate and Institutional ETF Gateway appeared first on Cryptonews.

Stablecoins and tokenized deposits could help Japan modernize payments and reduce reliance on foreign rails, the proposal says.

Bitcoin faces renewed Treasury yield pressure after Japanese investors sold $29.6 billion of US government, agency, and local authority debt in the first quarter, the largest quarterly net sale since the second quarter of 2022. As Bloomberg reported, the catalyst was an abrupt turnaround in Federal Reserve rate expectations when oil prices jumped, making existing […] The post Bitcoin faces Treasury yield pressure as Japan sells nearly $30 billion of US debt appeared first on CryptoSlate.