January 23rd, 2018 at 7:27 am UTC · 3 mins read
bitFlyer, the Tokyo-based operator of the world’s largest Bitcoin exchange, today announced its launch into Europe. Having been granted a Payment Institution (PI) license to operate in the European Union it has become the first Bitcoin exchange to be regulated in Japan, the US and Europe, making it the most compliant virtual currency exchange in the world.
The company is initially targeting professional, high-volume traders, an audience currently underserved in Europe. “What we bring to Europe is a platform designed by traders for traders,” says Andy Bryant, Chief Operating Officer of bitFlyer Europe. “Through our web interface or API, traders can get up and running quickly and benefit from some of the most robust systems, highest speeds and an interface designed with their specific needs in mind.”
Based on the latest volumes, roughly €10bn is traded worldwide in bitcoin per month, making the Euro the third largest bitcoin market in the world, after JPY and USD. “We’re pleased to see bitFlyer landing in Europe,” says Cedric Jeanson, CEO of BitSpread, one of the world’s largest digital currency market makers. “As virtual currency trading becomes mainstream and institutional investors get involved, there is a gap in Europe for a platform which specifically caters to the professional market.”
Speaking about the importance of today’s announcement, founder and CEO of bitFlyer and ex-Goldman Sachs trader, Yuzo Kano, said, “When I set up bitFlyer in 2014, I did so with global ambitions and the belief that approved regulatory status is fundamental to the long-term future of Bitcoin and the virtual currency industry. I am proud that we are now the most compliant virtual currency exchange in the world; this coveted regulatory status gives our customers, our company and the virtual currency industry as a whole a very positive future outlook.”
bitFlyer was granted its Payment Institution license by the Luxembourg regulator, Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) and from the company’s base at The Luxembourg House of Financial Technology Foundation (The LHoFT), it will market its platform in the European Union. “We’re delighted that one of the most successful Japanese startups chose Luxembourg as their EU platform,” says Pierre Gramegna, the Luxembourg Minister of Finance.
bitFlyer’s initial product offering is the BTC/EUR pair. The company plans to add support for other virtual currencies such as Litecoin, Ethereum, Ethereum Classic and Bitcoin Cash later in the year.
bitFlyer Europe is offering zero percent trading fees as an introductory promotion until the end of February 2018. To learn more and start trading, please visit: www.bitflyer.com/en-eu/.
bitFlyer EUROPE S.A. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of bitFlyer, Inc., a leading Bitcoin and blockchain company based in Japan. The European office is located in Luxembourg and operates an exchange platform for European traders to buy and sell bitcoin. bitFlyer EUROPE S.A. corporate site: www.bitflyer.com/en-eu/.
bitFlyer, Inc. is the largest Bitcoin and blockchain company in Japan, and has raised over 4.1 billion yen (~$36 million) in venture capital funding. bitFlyer aims to revolutionize the FinTech sector using blockchain technology. Its work includes operation of the bitFlyer integrated virtual currency platform, in-depth blockchain research, and the R&D of its original blockchain miyabi. bitFlyer, Inc., corporate site: www.bitflyer.com.
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