HISTORY

  1. 2013
     

    CEO Hiromasu drafts the 'Bitcoin Bank Initiative' to promote cryptocurrency and blockchain adoption

    • Industry Topic
    • Year-round: Mt. Gox, based in Shibuya, Tokyo, accounts for about 70% of global Bitcoin trading volume
  2. 2014
    May

    Established Bitcheck, Inc.

    Changed company name to Bitbank, Inc.

    • MT.GOX (Mt. Gox) Bitcoin disappearance incident
  3. August

    Head Office Relocated to Shibuya 'NV1 BLDG'

  4. September

    Company Name Changed to “Bitbank, Inc.”

  5. October

    Launch of BTCN (bitcoin news): A Media Platform Specializing in Bitcoin and Crypto Assets

    • Industry Topics
    • February: Exchange "Mt. Gox" announces loss of Bitcoin and files for civil rehabilitation (bankruptcy)
    • March: Japanese government defines Bitcoin as "not currency but property," releasing its first official legal opinion
  6. 2015
    June

    Japan's First Bitcoin Futures Exchange 'bitbank Trade' Launches

  7. June

    Launch of Bitcoin Futures Trading Service "bitbank Trade"

  8. August

    Transaction volume reached 2.5 billion yen in the first two weeks and 8 billion yen in the first month after launch

    • Industry Topics
    • December: Financial institutions announced a series of proof-of-concept projects for blockchain-based remittances and securities trading
    • Full year: The term “FinTech” became widely recognized
  9. 2016
    April

    Launch of Blockchain University: An Educational Business for Crypto Assets and Blockchain

  10. May

    Book "The Impact of Blockchain" Released by Nikkei BP (Co-authored by CEO Hiromasu and CSO Yamazaki)

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  11. May

    Launch of "bitcheck wallet" Enabling Bitcoin Purchases with Credit Card

  12. May

    Installation of Bitcoin ATMs for the Adoption and Practical Use of Bitcoin

  13. 2017
    March

    Launch of Cryptocurrency Exchange "bitbank.cc"

    • Enforcement of the 2017 Revised Payment Services Act
    • First group of cryptocurrency exchange operators announced
  14. March

    Launch of Cryptocurrency Exchange "bitbank.cc"

  15. July

    ¥850 Million Large-Scale Capital Increase from Ceres Inc.

  16. September

    Registered Crypto Asset Exchange Service Provider (Registration No. 00004)

  17. September

    Registered as a Crypto Asset Exchange Service Provider Kanto Regional Finance Bureaus licensed registration No. 00004

  18. December

    Publication of Bitcoin Guidebook "Dekiru Bitcoin" Supervised by CEO Hiromasu (Impress)

    • Industry Topics
    • April: Amended Payment Services Act enacted, registration system for crypto asset exchange businesses launched in Japan
    • April: Industry association "Japan Virtual Currency Business Association (now: Japan Crypto Asset Business Association)" established
  19. 2018
    March

    Start Lending to Grow

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    • Coincheck NEM (58 billion yen equivalent) theft incident
    • → Business improvement orders issued simultaneously to domestic crypto asset exchange operators
    • → Japan Virtual and Crypto assets Exchange Association (JVCEA) established as a self-regulatory organization
  20. 2019
    February

    Achieved 48% of Domestic Spot Trading Volume

  21. June

    Hirosue Appointed as JVCEA Director and JCBA Chairman

  22. 2020
    October

    Crypto Asset Exchange Released

    • Enforcement of the Revised Payment Services Act (spot trading is regulated under this act, while derivative trading is regulated under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act)
  23. 2021
    April

    Launch of PostOnly Order

  24. April

    Customer Assets Under Custody Reach Record High of 289.8 Billion Yen

  25. May

    Record Monthly Trading Volume (1.5311 Trillion Yen)

    • Coinbase Listed on NASDAQ
  26. May

    Monthly trading volume reaches a record high of 1,531.1 billion yen

  27. September

    mixi, Inc. raises approximately 7.5 billion yen from Ceres, Inc.

    Entered into a capital and business alliance agreement with mixi, Inc.

  28. September

    Raised approximately 750 million yen from mixi, Inc. (now MIXI, Inc.) and Ceres Inc., and entered into a capital and business alliance with mixi, Inc.

  29. 2022
    January

    Company Name Change: Blockchain University Co., Ltd. Renamed to Japan Digital Asset Trust Co., Ltd. Due to Business Shift to Crypto Asset Trust Services

  30. February

    Announcing the release of NLoop, our original open-source software supporting stable Lightning Network operations

  31. March

    Obtained Information Security Management System (ISMS) Certification Based on International Standards

  32. April

    Ranked 5th in the Financial Services sector and 130th overall in the Asia-Pacific High-Growth Companies 2022 ranking by the UK’s Financial Times and Statista

  33. May

    Establishment of Japan Digital Asset Trust Preparatory Company (JADAT)

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    • Enforcement of the revised Payment Services Act for stablecoins
    • Japanese government promotes “Web3.0”
    • → Numerous Web3-related teams and projects launched by relevant ministries and agencies
    • FTX bankruptcy (Chapter 11)
    • US BlockFi bankruptcy
  34. May

    Signed a basic agreement with Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc. (now Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group, Inc.) to establish a trust company specializing in digital assets

  35. May

    Established Subsidiary "Bitbank Entertainment Co., Ltd."

  36. June

    Certified Gold Rank in the 'White Company Certification' by the Japan Next Generation Corporate Promotion Organization

  37. September

    Certified as a Health and Productivity Management Organization (Silver Certification) under the Health Company Declaration System

  38. November

    Added "IssueHunt" as a new public platform for the bug bounty program that rewards system vulnerability reports

    • Industry Topics
    • April: The Liberal Democratic Party Digital Society Promotion Headquarters establishes the "web3 Project Team" to promote it as a national strategy
    • June: The revised Payment Services Act is enacted, establishing the world's first legal definition and issuance rules for stablecoins
    • November: Following the bankruptcy of a major overseas exchange, regulations on customer asset protection and exchange transparency are strengthened
  39. 2023
    January

    Received the Health Management Award in the 9th White Company Awards organized by the Japan Next Generation Enterprise Promotion Organization

  40. March

    No.1 in Number of Supported Assets in Japan (as of March 8, 2023)

    Japanese Yen, Instant Withdrawal Now Available

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  41. March

    Transition to a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee to Further Strengthen Corporate Governance

  42. March

    The largest number of cryptocurrencies handled among domestic exchanges

  43. April

    Certified as a 2023 Health and Productivity Management Outstanding Corporation by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Nippon Kenko Kaigi

  44. May

    Established Subsidiary "Bitbank Ventures LLC"

  45. June

    Hirosue Appointed Vice Chairman of JVCEA Board, Reappointed as JCBA Chairman

  46. June

    Obtained Kurumin Certification selected by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Japan Health Council

  47. July

    Official Owned Media 'Bitbank Plus' Launched

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  48. July

    Official owned media “Bitbank Plus” launched to deliver the latest information on crypto assets and Web3

  49. October

    Certified as a Health and Productivity Management Organization (Silver Certification) under the Health Company Declaration System

  50. November

    Support for "Multi-Network" Deposits and Withdrawals Now Available, Allowing Multiple Network Selection for the Same Asset

  51. December

    FiKNOTS Released

  52. December

    Launch of FiKNOTS: A Matching Service for Scholarship Programs in GameFi

    • Industry Topics
    • March: Bitcoin is re-evaluated as an alternative asset to traditional financial systems following bank failures in the US
    • April: The "web3 White Paper" is published by the Liberal Democratic Party's web3 project team
    • June: Amended Payment Services Act comes into effect, establishing a legal framework for the issuance and circulation of stablecoins in Japan
    • June: Partial revision of the corporate tax system is decided, excluding end-of-term market value taxation on self-issued crypto assets
    • June: Major US asset management firms apply for spot Bitcoin ETFs, raising expectations for institutional investor participation
  53. 2024
    March

    Instant Identity Verification Service Launched

  54. March

    Certified as a 2024 Health and Productivity Management Organization by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Nippon Kenko Kaigi

  55. April

    Ranked No. 1 Overall in Customer Satisfaction Survey by Third-Party Organization in the Spot Trading Category for Crypto Asset Exchanges

  56. May

    bitbank, Inc. 10th Anniversary

  57. July

    Announcement of the 'Compliance-First Declaration' Aimed at Contributing to Sound Market Development and Thorough User Protection

  58. July

    Biometric Authentication Login Now Available

  59. October

    Published Recommendations for the Formation of Crypto Asset ETFs in Japan as a Study Group Member

  60. October

    First TV Commercial Series “Everybody bitbank” Launched to Promote Brand Awareness

  61. November

    Launch of Margin Trading Service

    Establishment of Bitbank Ventures LLC

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  62. November

    Announcement of 'Bitbank Ventures LLC' for Investment Activities in Projects Utilizing Crypto Assets and Blockchain Technology

  63. November

    Launch of 'Margin Trading' Service Enabling Leverage Trading Using Crypto Assets as Collateral

    • Industry Topics
    • January: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved the first spot Bitcoin ETF, accelerating full-scale entry by institutional investors.
    • February: The Cabinet approved a bill allowing LPS (Limited Partnership for Investment) to acquire and hold crypto assets, advancing the development of the Web3 investment environment.
    • March: Bitcoin surpassed the 10 million yen mark against the Japanese yen for the first time in history, reaching a new all-time high.
    • April: The enforcement of the revised ordinance enabled the establishment of 'LLC-type DAOs,' furthering legal development for social implementation.
    • May: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved a spot Ethereum ETF, reaffirming its status as a major asset.
    • November: Bitcoin temporarily reached 15 million yen against the Japanese yen, marking a historic high.
  64. 2025
    January

    Selected for Forbes US's Crypto Exchange Ranking "The World's Most Trustworthy Crypto Exchanges"

  65. March

    Joined PCrypto-ISAC, Appointed as Representative Director Noda

    • JPCrypto-ISAC launched to strengthen cybersecurity
    • Financial Services Agency's Financial System Council 'Working Group on Crypto Asset Systems (WG)' launched
    • → Toward crypto asset regulation and application of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act
    • Japan Digital Decentralized Finance Association established
  66. March

    Instant Review Complete! Launch of 'Quick Identity Verification'

    • US Spot Bitcoin ETFs Approved
    • → 11 Products Begin Trading
    • Fourth Bitcoin Halving
    • DMM Bitcoin Unauthorized Outflow (Approx. 48.2 Billion Yen)
    • → Business Discontinued, Transferred to SBI VC Trade
    • → Involvement of North Korean Hacker Group
  67. March

    Certified as a 2025 Health and Productivity Management Organization by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Japan Health Council

  68. April

    Second TV Commercial Launch

  69. April

    Ranked No. 1 Overall for Two Consecutive Years in Customer Satisfaction Survey by Third-Party Organization in the Crypto Asset Exchange Spot Trading Category

  70. April

    Launch of Second TV Commercial Series 'Everybody bitbank' to Further Expand Brand Awareness

  71. May

    Celebrating 10th Anniversary

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  72. October

    First TV Commercial Launch

  73. November

    Launched bitbank Prime for Corporations

  74. November

    Launch of Corporate Service “bitbank Prime”

  75. December

    The TV commercial series "Everybody bitbank" wins the "CM Campaign That Moved Consumers" award in a third-party survey

    • Industry Topics
    • January: Trump administration inaugurated in the US; Bitcoin records "15.8 million to 16.9 million yen" against the Japanese yen
    • February: Full-scale discussions begin in the US on holding Bitcoin as a national asset through a "strategic Bitcoin reserve"
    • March: "JPCrypto-ISAC," a general incorporated association aimed at strengthening cybersecurity in the crypto asset industry, is established
    • June: Consideration begins for applying the "Financial Instruments and Exchange Act" to crypto assets
    • July: In the US, the "Stablecoin Act (GENIUS Act, etc.)" is passed, advancing regulations and legal frameworks with a focus on the US dollar as the key currency
    • December: 2026 tax reform outline decides to introduce "separate taxation" and "carryforward deduction" for crypto asset transactions
    • December: "Japan Digital Decentralized Finance Association (JDFA)," a general incorporated association aiming to promote the development of digital decentralized finance across banks, securities firms, and crypto asset exchanges, is established
  76. 2026
    January

    Head Office Relocated to Tokyo Midtown Yaesu

  77. January

    The 'Everybody bitbank' TV commercial series receives top rating among new entrants in the Kanto area in a third-party survey

  78. February

    QA Headquarters Office Relocated to Tokyo Midtown Yaesu

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  79. March

    Certified as a 2026 Health and Productivity Management Organization by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Nippon Kenko Kaigi

  80. March

    Entered into a 500 million yen commitment line agreement with Kiraboshi Bank, Ltd.

  81. April

    Ranked No. 1 Overall for Three Consecutive Years in Customer Satisfaction Surveys by Third-Party Organizations in the Spot Trading Category for Crypto Asset Exchanges

  82. April

    Announcing the EPOS CRYPTO Card for bitbank: A Credit Card That Allows Withdrawals from Crypto Exchange Assets