Share this article
Bitcoin to Feature at Rakuten's First Financial Conference
Multi-billion-dollar retailer Rakuten is including a panel of bitcoin industry representatives at its first financial conference next month.
Updated Apr 10, 2024, 3:16 a.m. Published Jan 22, 2015, 10:47 a.m.
Make us preferred on Google
Bitcoin will be on the agenda in Japan next month at 'Financial Conference 2015' – an event being held by online retail giant Rakuten in conjunction with other firms.
The Japanese multinational and Amazon rival will host the one-day event in Tokyo on 23rd February, the first such event in the company's history.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
Notably, Xapo CEO Wences Casares and Bitnet CEO John McDonnell both appear on the speakers list alongside PayPal founder Peter Thiel and MasterCard's James Anderson.
One session is a panel discussion titled 'The Rise of Bitcoin'. Local lawyer So Saito, of advocacy group the Japan Authority of Digital Asset (JADA) will also be speaking.
The event's website says:
"Innovative financial businesses are flourishing all over the world as technology evolves from day to day. Virtual currencies such as 'Bit Coin', advanced payment systems optimized for mobile, as well as their collaborations with Finance & Technology are rapidly emerging."
Rakuten and bitcoin
Rakuten was reluctant to speak about any possible plans to introduce bitcoin into its online shopping ecosystem, and did not comment on whether it would engage in any specific discussions with the two bitcoin companies represented
A Xapo spokesperson said:
"Rakuten is an innovative global force and a company we deeply respect. Honored to participate in their inaugural financial conference to represent Xapo and the bitcoin community."
CoinDesk contacted Rakuten to ask about the intent behind inviting bitcoin representatives to its conference, but received the response: "As for bitcoin related questions, we're not in a position to do comment at this stage".
CEO Hiroshi Mikitani has spoken favorably about bitcoin in the past, saying it is a more stable option than some national currencies and anticipating that his company would accept bitcoin "sooner or later".
In August, its US subsidiary Rakuten Super Logistics announced it would accept bitcoin for shipping services, citing consumer demand to use digital currency.
Rakuten is also notable in Japan for operating its own bank, a purely online operation with no physical branches. It also has insurance and investment management businesses, and its own team in Japan's national baseball league.
Its international operation includes over 40 businesses gained mostly through acquisition, including Buy.com and messaging app Viber. It has over 10,000 employees and revenues in 2012 topped 4.63bn.
CoinDesk has also reached out to Bitnet for comment on their involvement in the event.
Tokyo image via Shutterstock
Sizin için daha fazlası
KuCoin Hits Record Market Share as 2025 Volumes Outpace Crypto Market
Tarafından sipariş edildiKuCoin
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
Bilinmesi gerekenler:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
More For You
Here’s why bitcoin’s is failing its role as a 'safe haven' versus gold
Bitcoin behaves more like an "ATM" during uncertain times, with investors quickly selling it to raise cash.
What to know:
- During recent geopolitical tensions, Bitcoin lost 6.6% of its value, while gold rose 8.6%, demonstrating bitcoin's vulnerability in times of market stress.
- Bitcoin behaves more like an "ATM" during uncertain times, with investors quickly selling it to raise cash, contrary to its reputation as a stable digital asset.
- Gold remains the preferred hedge for short-term risks, while bitcoin is better suited for long-term monetary and geopolitical uncertainties that unfold over years.
Top Stories
