Share this article
Japan's Bic Camera to Accept Bitcoin Payments at All Stores
Following a successful trial, the Japanese consumer electronics retailer is expanding its bitcoin payment option to all stores nationwide.
By Chuan Tian
Updated Sep 11, 2021, 1:31 p.m. Published Jul 12, 2017, 9:00 a.m.
Make us preferred on Google
In this article
A consumer electronics retailer in Japan is expanding a bitcoin payment option to all its stores nationwide.
According to Nikkei, Bic Camera, which began accepting bitcoin at several locations in April, is expanding the option after seeing unexpected levels of demand from spenders. The company is taking payments in the digital currency through a partnership with domestic bitcoin exchange bitFlyer, which it uses to convert bitcoin into yen upon acceptance.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
Bic Camera sells a range of products, including cameras, personal computers and home appliances like dishwashers.
News that Bic Camera was taking bitcoin in a limited capacity came shortly after the Japanese government put in place new regulations around digital currencies and the exchange services that handle them. Among those was a legal definition for bitcoin as a kind of payment instrument.
Those rules came into being after the failure of Mt Gox, the now-defunct bitcoin exchange that collapsed in early 2014. Mt Gox's CEO, Mark Karpeles, appeared in court yesterday and pleaded not guilty to embezzlement.
As for when the nationwide roll-out is happening, Nikkei reports that it could play out as early as this month. Kojima, a subsidiary brand of Bic Camera's, is also expected to begin accepting bitcoin in the near future.
Disclosure: CoinDesk is a subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which has an ownership stake in bitFlyer.
Bic Camera store image via Shutterstock
More For You
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.
What to know:
- 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
Key bitcoin price levels to watch as downward pressure builds
As bitcoin remains in a downtrend, several technical and onchain levels stand out as critical areas of support.
What to know:
- The 100-week moving average at $87,145 remains the main line of defense.
- Below this, the cost basis of U.S. spot bitcoin ETF buyers at $84,099 has provided support during recent consolidation.
- A sustained break below $80,000 would likely open the door to a revisit of the April 2025 low near $76,000.
Top Stories
