Japan Crypto Exchange Compliance Advisory
Japan's FSA regime is the strictest credible market in Asia and the listings whitelist is the smallest. The reward for navigating it is access to one of the deepest retail wallets in the region.
- Registrant
- FSA Crypto-Asset Exchange Service Provider
- SRO
- JVCEA membership required
- Capital
- JPY 10M+ paid-up, plus reserves
- Whitelist
- JVCEA-approved tokens only
The JVCEA whitelist
New listings must clear the JVCEA's green-list process. The bar is high, the timeline is months, and the regulator coordinates with FSA on every decision. Plan your listings calendar around it.
Cold storage and segregation
Customer assets must be held in cold storage at the regulated percentage and segregated from the firm's own funds. The internal controls expected here are the strictest in the region — get them right before applying, not after.
Can a foreign exchange acquire a Japanese licence holder?
Yes, with FSA approval of the change of control. It is the most common entry path for foreign operators and the route we typically recommend.
Live decision on the table?
Licensing, market structure, MM panel design, listings framework, or institutional onboarding — direct partner time, no pitch deck.