BitFlyer
BitFlyer is a privately held cryptocurrency exchange licensed across Japan, the US, and the EU, serving retail investors, professional traders, and institutional clients with spot trading, Lightning Pro Exchange, programmatic APIs, staking, and institutional services via bitFlyer Prime.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersAkasaka, Japan
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What BitFlyer does
BitFlyer (legal entity 株式会社 bitFlyer) is a privately held cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2014 in Japan and licensed to operate across three distinct regulatory jurisdictions: Japan (Kanto Finance Bureau, registration No. 00003 — Japan's first crypto-asset exchange license), the United States (NY Department of Financial Services Virtual Currency Business Activity license, FinCEN Money Services Business registration), and the European Union (Luxembourg CSSF Virtual Asset Service Provider registration — the first such registration granted to a Luxembourg-based company, audited by a Big 4 firm). The company serves retail investors, professional/sophisticated traders, and — as of July 2026 — institutional and corporate clients, with approximately 3 million verified users globally and 3.8 million users in Europe. BitFlyer's core offering is spot cryptocurrency trading, available via a Buy/Sell marketplace for retail customers and a Lightning Pro Exchange for professional traders, complemented by Lightning and chainFlyer APIs for programmatic trading, a Lightning API Playground sandbox, automated dollar-cost averaging through Recurring Buy ($10–$10,000 per transaction), blockchain exploration tools (chainFlyer and Blockchain LAB), Japan-market staking/lending services, Crypto CFD derivatives with up to 2x leverage, and a Bitcoin-rewards credit card (bitFlyer クレカ).
The platform's underlying technology emphasizes a defense-in-depth security architecture: 100% of customer crypto is held in cold storage with segregated asset management; multi-signature Bitcoin wallets require two or more signatures to release funds; an in-house developed Bitcoin daemon cross-checks behavior against bitcoind and can be modified immediately on anomaly detection; all connections use TLS 1.2 with AES_128_GCM and ECDHE_RSA key exchange; SHA-256 hashing reduces vulnerability exposure to 1/2^128; two-factor authentication via SMS, email, or authenticator app is mandatory; a Web Application Firewall inspects HTTP traffic against whitelist/blacklist rules; and DNS IP Anycast plus a custom CSPRNG provide DDoS protection and cryptographic randomness respectively. BitFlyer publishes no fewer than ten distinct security claims and has maintained a seven-year industry-leading record with zero hacking incidents. The Lightning Pro Exchange supports 20+ specialized order types and provides direct access to the BTC/JPY market.
BitFlyer's revenue model is transaction-fee-driven and product-led. Volume-tiered trading fees on Lightning Pro range from 0.10% (under $50K monthly volume) to 0.03% (>$500M), calculated daily on trailing 30-day volume. Buy/Sell marketplace trades carry no explicit fee but embed a spread of 0.1%–6.0% in quoted prices, with the spread widening during volatility or thin liquidity. Withdrawal fees vary by asset (e.g., 0.0004 BTC, 0.005 ETH, 0.001 LTC, 0.0002 BCH, free XLM), and USD wire withdrawals cost $20 each while wire and ACH deposits are free. Account creation is free with no maintenance fees, and the minimum trade size is $1. Go-to-market is purely product-led and self-serve: web platform, native iOS and Android apps, and APIs — with no named enterprise anchor customers or B2B channel partners disclosed. Geographic footprint covers Japan (40 supported cryptocurrencies, the dominant revenue base as Japan's #1 Bitcoin spot exchange for ten consecutive years 2016–2025), the United States (9 supported cryptocurrencies, with several state-level licenses pending), and Europe (PayPal and EUR bank deposits supported).
BitFlyer firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BitFlyer
- Legal name
- 株式会社 bitFlyer
- Website
- https://bitflyer.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- BitFlyer is a privately held cryptocurrency exchange licensed across Japan, the US, and the EU, serving retail investors, professional traders, and institutional clients with spot trading, Lightning Pro Exchange, programmatic APIs, staking, and institutional services via bitFlyer Prime.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BitFlyer industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cryptocurrency Exchange
- NAICS
- Securities and Commodity Exchanges (52321)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Borrowing/Lending Risk & Credit Infrastructure (on-chain credit scoring, risk engines, insurance wrappers) (FSAPAEAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Collateral Management, Liquidation & Risk Engines (Credit) (FSADAFAE), Blockchain Analytics & Transaction Monitoring (FSADALAB), Tokenized Collateral & On-Chain Credit Infrastructure (Collateral Mgmt, Liquidations) (FSAGAMAK)
Keywords
Where BitFlyer is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Akasaka
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
BitFlyer business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Trading Fees (Lightning Spot): Volume-tiered trading fees on Lightning Pro Exchange ranging from 0.10% down to 0.03% for highest volume traders. Fees calculated daily based on past 30-day volume.
- Buy/Sell Spread: No trading fee for Buy/Sell marketplace, but a spread between 0.1% and 6.0% is included in the purchase and sales prices displayed.
- Cryptocurrency Withdrawal Fees: Fees charged for withdrawing various cryptocurrencies: BTC (0.0004 BTC), ETH (0.005 ETH), LTC (0.001 LTC), BCH (0.0002 BCH), BAT (5 BAT), DOT (0.1 DOT), XTZ (0.1 XTZ). XLM withdrawals are free.
- Wire Transfer Fees: Wire deposits (Fedwire) are free. Wire withdrawals (Fedwire) incur $20 fee.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Account Creation - Free tier |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Lightning Spot Trading - Volume Tiered |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Buy/Sell Marketplace - Spread-based |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Recurring Buy - Automated Investment |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | USD Wire Deposits - Free |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | USD Wire Withdrawals |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
BitFlyer product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BitFlyer operates a regulated, multi-jurisdictional cryptocurrency exchange platform that lets individual retail users buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and others) starting from as little as $1. It also provides an advanced "Lightning" exchange for high-volume professional traders, a Recurring Buy (dollar-cost-averaging) feature, an Earning Program for staking/lending-supported rewards, and an institutional offering called bitFlyer Prime for asset management and custody. The company further operates chainFlyer, a public blockchain explorer developed under its Blockchain LAB initiative.
Product overview
BitFlyer is a globally licensed cryptocurrency exchange platform operating across Japan, US, and EU markets, offering trading across approximately 40 cryptocurrencies. The core product portfolio centers on the bitFlyer main exchange platform for retail users and bitFlyer Lightning for professional traders, supplemented by automated investing via bitFlyer Recurring Buy, blockchain exploration through chainFlyer and Blockchain LAB, and institutional services via bitFlyer Prime. Additional offerings include Crypto CFD derivatives with leverage, staking/lending services, and a Bitcoin rewards credit card. The platform provides developer access through Lightning API, chainFlyer API, and an API Playground. Security features include 100% cold storage, multi-signature authentication, and an industry-leading 7-year record without security incidents.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- bitFlyer Lightning: Professional trading platform for sophisticated traders offering advanced order types, APIs, and access to global BTC/JPY markets
- chainFlyer
- Blockchain LAB
- bitFlyer Prime
Products and services
- Easy Exchange (Buy/Sell) Beginner-friendly crypto exchange surface that lets retail users buy and sell supported cryptocurrencies with a single click, starting from as little as $1, with real-time indicative pricing and a Buy/Sell spread.
- Lightning Exchange (Advanced / Pro) Advanced spot exchange for high-volume retail and professional traders featuring real-time charts, advanced order types (limit, market, stop, IFD, OCO, IFDOCO), and volume-tiered fees that scale down (and into negative bands) at higher 30-day trading volumes.
- Recurring Buy (Dollar-Cost-Averaging) Automated scheduled purchase feature that lets users buy a fixed cryptocurrency amount daily, weekly, biweekly, or monthly in supported assets (e.g., BTC, ETH, ETC, XRP, LTC, BCH, MONA) using linked funding methods, supporting dollar-cost-averaging strategies.
- bitFlyer Prime Institutional asset-management and digital-asset custody service for corporate and institutional clients, offering secure liquid asset management of crypto under a tri-regional regulated framework.
- Corporate Account Dedicated account type for corporate / business customers to deposit, trade, and withdraw cryptocurrencies via the exchange, supporting institutional and corporate participation.
- Earning Program (bF earned / staking / lending) Program that lets eligible users earn returns on qualifying holdings held on the platform, distributing rewards in supported assets, conceptually similar to staking or crypto lending yield programs.
- chainFlyer (Blockchain Explorer) Public blockchain explorer developed under BitFlyer's "Blockchain LAB" initiative that visualizes Bitcoin and other blockchain transactions block by block, with address labeling and searchability.
- BitFlyer Trading API (REST and WebSocket) Public and private API suite (REST and WebSocket) that allows external developers, traders, and institutions to fetch market data, manage accounts, and place orders programmatically on the BitFlyer exchange.
Quantifiable outcome
- Zero cryptocurrency theft incidents in 7+ years of operation
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use BitFlyer
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
BitFlyer technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature10 records
BitFlyer partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Japan Blockchain Association (JBA)corebitFlyer is a Platinum member of the Japan Blockchain Association (JBA), meeting criteria due to comprehensive trade restrictions and security measures in compliance with JBA guidelines. Committed to prevention of money laundering and transfer of criminal proceeds.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
BitFlyer competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Binance: Global cryptocurrency exchange by volume. Competes directly on spot trading, futures/derivatives, and staking, though with a different regulatory profile (currently constrained in US/EU). Largest liquidity competitor for non-Japan flow.
- Kraken: US-based cryptocurrency exchange with strong security reputation and pro trading features. Comparable target customers (retail + professional traders), staking/lending services, and regulatory compliance footprint.
- Coinbase: Largest publicly listed US cryptocurrency exchange. Directly comparable as a regulated retail and institutional trading platform with broad asset coverage; competes head-to-head with bitFlyer across the US and increasingly globally.
- Bitstamp: Long-standing, regulated European cryptocurrency exchange (now owned by Robinhood). Comparable on regulatory compliance posture, pro trading services, and serving European retail and institutional clients.
- Bybit: Global crypto exchange with strong derivatives book. Compares on advanced trading features, low fees, and serving sophisticated retail and pro traders; competes in the same cross-border pro-trader segment.
- Crypto.com: Global crypto exchange and app with Visa card, staking, and derivatives. Directly comparable product set (exchange + card + lending), aggressive global marketing, and competing for similar retail and pro traders.
- Gemini: US-regulated cryptocurrency exchange founded by the Winklevoss twins. Comparable focus on regulatory compliance, security, and serving both retail and institutional clients in the US market.
- KuCoin: Global crypto exchange with broad altcoin coverage and API-first trading. Comparable on asset breadth, programmatic trading, and retail-focused international footprint.
- OKX: Global crypto exchange with spot, derivatives, and Web3 wallet. Comparable in offering advanced order types, API access, and competitive fee structures targeting professional traders.
Broad incumbents
- Robinhood: US-based multi-asset retail brokerage with crypto trading as a vertical. Comparable in serving retail investors with low minimums and simple UX, but operates a broader equities and options platform rather than specializing in crypto.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
BitFlyer social profiles
Digital presenceBitFlyer financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BitFlyer leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
BitFlyer subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
BitFlyer funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds9 records
Investors16 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BitFlyer M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments4 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BitFlyer
What does BitFlyer do?
BitFlyer operates a regulated, multi-jurisdictional cryptocurrency exchange platform that lets individual retail users buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and others) starting from as little as $1. It also provides an advanced "Lightning" exchange for high-volume professional traders, a Recurring Buy (dollar-cost-averaging) feature, an Earning Program for staking/lending-supported rewards, and an institutional offering called bitFlyer Prime for asset management and custody. The company further operates chainFlyer, a public blockchain explorer developed under its Blockchain LAB initiative.
Is BitFlyer a public or private company?
BitFlyer is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was BitFlyer founded?
BitFlyer was founded in 2014. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is BitFlyer based?
BitFlyer is headquartered in Akasaka, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does BitFlyer make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Trading Fees (Lightning Spot) is the primary driver. The others are buy/Sell Spread, cryptocurrency Withdrawal Fees and wire Transfer Fees.
Who are BitFlyer's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Binance, Kraken, Coinbase, Bitstamp, Bybit, Crypto.com, Gemini, KuCoin and OKX. Robinhood is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does BitFlyer have an API?
Yes. BitFlyer provides multiple APIs: (1) bitFlyer Lightning API for trading operations, enabling programmatic access to the Lightning trading platform; (2) chainFlyer API for blockchain explorer data access; (3) bitFlyer Lightning API Playground as a testing/sandbox environment. The APIs allow developers to execute trades, access market data, and interact with blockchain information programmatically. Developer documentation is at lightning.bitflyer.com/docs?lang=en.
What industry is BitFlyer in?
BitFlyer's product category is Cryptocurrency Exchange. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAPAEAI, Borrowing/Lending Risk & Credit Infrastructure (on-chain credit scoring, risk engines, insurance wrappers), with a secondary code of FSADAFAE, Collateral Management, Liquidation & Risk Engines (Credit). Its NAICS code is 52321 and its SIC code is 6200.