Share this article

Yahoo Japan Buys Stake in Cryptocurrency Exchange

Yahoo Japan confirmed that it has invested in Japanese crypto exchange BitArg through a subsidiary.

Updated Sep 13, 2021, 7:49 a.m. Published Apr 13, 2018, 7:00 p.m.
shutterstock_1018646335

Yahoo Japan confirmed Friday that it has purchased a minority stake in a Japanese cryptocurrency exchange.

Z Corporation, a subsidiary wholly owned by Yahoo Japan, acquired a 40 percent stake in BitArg Exchange Tokyo, valued at 2-3 billion yen (about $18.6 -$27 million), according to Reuters. The exchange is set to launch in the autumn of 2018, Yahoo Japan said in a statement.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters

"By utilizing the service operation and security expertise of the Yahoo group, we support the operation of exchanges operated by BitArgo Exchange Tokyo," Yahoo Japan said, adding that it will aim to provide services that are "easy to use and safe."

Rumors of the acquisition first emerged in March, though at the time they indicated that Yahoo Japan would make the investment through its forex transaction platform, YJFX, not Z Corporation, as previously reported.

Japan is an industry hub with more than three million domestic crypto traders, and the news of Yahoo Japan's investment comes just days after the country's financial regulator ordered crypto exchanges Eternal Link and FSHO to cease operations due to insufficient KYC procedures.

Likewise, in another notable acquisition this month, Monex Group announced that it struck a deal to acquire troubled exchange Coincheck, which suffered a major hack earlier this year.

Editor's note: Some statements in this article were translated from Japanese.

Miniature businessmen shaking hands image via Shutterstock

More For You

State of the Blockchain 2025

State of the Blockchain 16:9

L1 tokens broadly underperformed in 2025 despite a backdrop of regulatory and institutional wins. Explore the key trends defining ten major blockchains below.

What to know:

2025 was defined by a stark divergence: structural progress collided with stagnant price action. Institutional milestones were reached and TVL increased across most major ecosystems, yet the majority of large-cap Layer-1 tokens finished the year with negative or flat returns.

This report analyzes the structural decoupling between network usage and token performance. We examine 10 major blockchain ecosystems, exploring protocol versus application revenues, key ecosystem narratives, mechanics driving institutional adoption, and the trends to watch as we head into 2026.

More For You

Polkadot's DOT dips, with token underperforming wider crypto markets

"Polkadot price chart showing a 2.13% gain to $1.84 with mixed weekend trading signals and consolidation pattern."

Currently at $1.84, DOT has support at the $1.83 level and resistance at $1.88.

What to know:

  • DOT slipped 2% to $1.84 as the wider crypto market fell just marginally.
  • A technical breakout would target the $2.00-$2.50 range.