Mizuho Bank launches J-Coin Pay digital currency platform in March
On February 20, Mizuho Bank, one of the largest banks in Japan, announced a plan to launch a new bank digital currency platform called J-Coin Pay in March 2019 in cooperation with about 60 financial institutions. J-Coin Pay uses QR…
Technologically Advanced Trading Apps for iPhone and Android
In an ever-changing market space, brokers of all kinds are fighting neck and neck trying to develop the most advanced and optimized trading app possible. Naturally, this dedication has resulted in some very impressive technological advances over the last few…
Rakuten launches a new corporate structure in April—Will cryptocurrency payments be a part of the Rakuten ecosystem?
At an earnings briefing held on February 12, Rakuten, Inc. (TSE: 4755) announced a plan to update its Rakuten Pay App on March 18. The update will consolidate all of Rakuten’s electronic points and money, namely Rakuten Points, Rakuten Cash,…
Japan’s FSA reports a sharp decline in the number of inquiries related to cryptocurrencies
On February 8, the Financial Services Agency (FSA) issued a report entitled: “Status of Inquiries and Other Communications Received by Counseling Office for Financial Service Users.†The report shows the number and details of inquiries and other communications received by…
Five more deemed exchanges join Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association
The Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association (JVCEA) announced that five deemed exchanges that are or will be applying for registration as cryptocurrency exchange operators (Type II members) joined the association on February 1, 2019. The five new members are: Money…
Major Japanese Internet Company to Permit Crypto Asset Payments for Game
GMO Internet, Inc., a major Internet-related company that includes a cryptocurrency exchange operator among its group companies, announced that it plans to plans to enable CryoptoChips by GMO crypto assets to be distributed as compensation in the game app for…
Accounting Industry Rushing Into Cryptocurrency
CPAs are late to the game but also rushing into the cryptocurrency space. As an industry leader in cryptotax services I have been able to observe how this niche sector is developing. It is not out of the ordinary for…
Is Bitcoin Money
Bitcoin from its inception was created to be a peer-to-peer electronic money. It emerged at the height of the 2008 financial crisis and was seemingly in reaction to the massive financial fraud that was being perpetrated by investment banks and…