bitFlyer Holdings
bitFlyer Holdings operates a multi-jurisdictional cryptocurrency exchange platform serving retail, professional, and institutional crypto traders across Japan, the US, and Europe. It offers spot trading, leveraged CFDs, staking, custody, and institutional services under regulatory licenses spanning three major markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersAkasaka, Japan
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What bitFlyer Holdings does
bitFlyer Holdings is the parent company of a multi-jurisdictional cryptocurrency exchange group headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with operations across Japan, the United States (49 states + DC), and Europe (Luxembourg). Founded in 2014, the group operates the bitFlyer retail exchange platform, the bitFlyer Lightning professional trading platform, and a suite of ancillary services including Recurring Buy (automated dollar-cost averaging), Crypto CFD with up to 2x leverage, crypto lending/staking, a Bitcoin rewards credit card, and the chainFlyer blockchain explorer. The platform supports over 40 cryptocurrencies and recorded the largest annual Bitcoin trading volume in Japan for six consecutive years (2016-2021) per JPBitcoin.com, with $180 billion+ global transaction volume in 2021 and approximately $5 billion+ in customer assets under custody.
The company's technical infrastructure is centered on security: 100% of customer crypto assets are stored in cold wallets, multi-signature technology protects Bitcoin transactions, and bitFlyer developed its own Bitcoin daemon rather than relying on publicly available source code. The group holds a multi-jurisdictional regulatory stack including NYDFS Virtual Currency Business Activity license, FinCEN MSB registration, CSSF VASP registration in Luxembourg, MiCA license for Europe, and Japan Financial Instruments Business Operator and Cryptocurrency Exchange registrations. In June 2024, bitFlyer acquired FTX Japan (rebranded as New Custody Company) to pivot toward institutional-grade crypto custody services and plans for Japan's first crypto ETFs.
Revenue is generated through transaction-based fees: tiered maker-taker fees of 0.03%-0.10% on Lightning Exchange, spreads of 0.1%-6.0% on the Buy/Sell service, asset withdrawal fees, wire transfer fees, and spread income on leveraged Crypto CFD positions. The platform serves three primary customer segments: retail cryptocurrency investors (low minimums of $1-$10), professional/sophisticated traders using the Lightning platform with API access and 20+ order types, and institutional investors through the new bitFlyer Prime service. The group serves 3 million+ global email-confirmed users and operates with 51-100 employees. In 2026, bitFlyer established an AI Strategy Office to develop AI and blockchain-based financial infrastructure, signaling a strategic broadening beyond pure crypto exchange operations.
bitFlyer Holdings firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- bitFlyer Holdings
- Legal name
- 株式会社 bitFlyer
- Website
- https://bitflyer.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- bitFlyer Holdings operates a multi-jurisdictional cryptocurrency exchange platform serving retail, professional, and institutional crypto traders across Japan, the US, and Europe. It offers spot trading, leveraged CFDs, staking, custody, and institutional services under regulatory licenses spanning three major markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
bitFlyer Holdings industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cryptocurrency Exchange
- NAICS
- Securities and Commodity Exchanges (5232), Securities and Commodity Exchanges (523210)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Active Crypto Asset Managers (Discretionary) (FSADAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Tokenized Real-World Assets & On-Chain Treasuries (tokenized T-bills, money markets, cash management) (FSAPAEAJ), Decentralized Lending Protocols (DeFi Money Markets) (FSADAFAB), Blockchain Analytics & Transaction Monitoring (FSADALAB)
Keywords
Where bitFlyer Holdings is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Akasaka
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
bitFlyer Holdings business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Trading Fees: Fees charged on Lightning Exchange trades, ranging from 0.03% to 0.10% based on 30-day trading volume. Maker-taker fee model with lower fees for higher volume traders.
- Buy/Sell Spread: No trading fees on Buy/Sell service, but a spread of 0.1% to 6.0% is included in purchase and sales prices displayed to users.
- 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 (Free).
- Wire Transfer Fees: Wire deposit via Fedwire is free; wire withdrawals incur a $20 fee.
- Crypto CFD Trading: Trading fees are free for Crypto CFD, with the platform earning through spreads on leveraged cryptocurrency derivative positions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Lightning Spot Trading: Volume-based tiers from $0 to $500M+ monthly volume |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Buy/Sell Service: Commission-free trading with spread |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Recurring Buy: Dollar-cost averaging service |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Crypto CFD Trading: Leveraged derivative trading |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Withdrawal and Deposit Fees |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels6 records
bitFlyer Holdings product offering
Product offeringCore offering
bitFlyer Holdings is a tri-jurisdiction (Japan, US, Europe/Luxembourg) cryptocurrency exchange operator offering a spot marketplace (Buy/Sell), a professional Lightning exchange with advanced order types and APIs, automated recurring-investment plans, leveraged Crypto CFD, lending/staking, a Bitcoin-rewards credit card, blockchain exploration tools (chainFlyer), and institutional custody and trading services through bitFlyer Prime and the former FTX Japan entity (rebranded New Custody Company). The group serves more than 3 million users globally, has custody of over $5 billion in customer assets, and supports 40+ crypto trading pairs.
Product overview
bitFlyer Holdings operates a comprehensive cryptocurrency exchange ecosystem with operations across Japan, the US, and Europe. The core offering is the bitFlyer trading platform supporting 40+ cryptocurrencies via a user-friendly marketplace, complemented by the professional-grade bitFlyer Lightning exchange for sophisticated traders. The product suite includes automated investment tools (Recurring Buy/Easy Recurring Buy), crypto lending and staking services, a Bitcoin-earning credit card, leveraged Crypto CFD trading, and blockchain exploration tools (chainFlyer). Recent additions include bitFlyer Prime for institutional clients and the AI Strategy Office for AI/blockchain financial infrastructure development. The company acquired FTX Japan (rebranded as New Custody Company) to expand into institutional custody services and crypto ETFs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- chainFlyer: Bitcoin blockchain technology explorer - blockchain explorer and research tool for blockchain technology
- New Custody Company
- bitFlyer かんたん積立 (Recurring Buy)
- bitFlyer Prime
- bitFlyer クレカ (bitFlyer Credit Card)
Products and services
- bitFlyer (Main Exchange Marketplace) Consumer-friendly cryptocurrency exchange marketplace supporting buying, selling, and trading of 40+ crypto assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Stellar Lumens, Polkadot, Tezos, Basic Attention Token, Ethereum Classic, and other altcoins. Free account creation with $1 minimum investment and 5-9 minute onboarding, targeting individual investors and self-directed traders across Japan, US, and EU markets.
- bitFlyer Lightning (Professional Exchange) Professional-grade cryptocurrency trading platform offering 20+ special order types (including reverse limits), real-time market data, programmatic trading via APIs, and direct access to the global BTC/JPY market alongside USD markets. Maker-taker volume-tiered fees starting from 10bps, targeted at experienced traders and algorithmic/quant traders.
- bitFlyer Recurring Buy Automated cryptocurrency investment service enabling users to schedule recurring purchases of crypto assets at frequencies ranging from daily to bi-monthly, with per-transaction amounts from $10 to $50,000+. Provides dollar-cost-averaging using the Buy/Sell pricing mechanism, targeting systematic long-term crypto investors.
- Crypto Lending / Staking Crypto asset lending and staking service allowing users to earn lending fees or staking rewards by utilizing their held crypto assets. Targeted at active crypto holders seeking yield on idle holdings on the bitFlyer Japan platform.
- bitFlyer Credit Card (ビットフライヤークレカ) Cryptocurrency credit card service that earns Bitcoin rewards on everyday purchases and utility bill payments, providing real-world spending utility for crypto holdings on the bitFlyer Japan platform.
- bitFlyer Crypto CFD Contract-for-difference trading service allowing leveraged trading with up to 2x leverage on cryptocurrency price movements in both rising and falling markets. Zero trading fees with spread-based revenue, targeting active retail traders seeking short-term directional exposure.
- chainFlyer Blockchain Explorer Bitcoin blockchain explorer and technology lab providing blockchain research and development tools including the Bitcoin Audit Tool (address auditing), Bouncer smart contract checker, Blockchain Writer, and Blockchain Docs for blockchain document verification. Targeted at developers, researchers, and technically engaged crypto users.
- bitFlyer Prime (Institutional Service) Institutional and business-focused cryptocurrency service providing dedicated trading and custody infrastructure for institutional investors and business corporations. Launched to support the group's institutional franchise alongside the New Custody Company entity (acquired from FTX Japan) and the planned launch of Japan's first crypto ETFs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Industry-leading 7-year streak with zero cryptocurrency hacking incidents
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use bitFlyer Holdings
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
bitFlyer Holdings technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature8 records
bitFlyer Holdings partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- European Markets (MiCA License)corebitFlyer obtained a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license for Europe in June 2026, enabling expanded crypto asset trading services within the European Union under the new regulatory framework.
- FTX JapancorebitFlyer Holdings acquired 100% of FTX Japan K.K. in June 2024, approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The acquisition includes $134 million in user assets and aims to provide a secure platform for FTX Japan users while shifting business focus to institutional-grade crypto custody services and crypto ETFs pending regulatory approval. FTX Japan was rebranded as New Custody Company under bitFlyer's ownership.
- SMBC, Sumitomo Mitsui SBI Net Bank, GMO Aozora Net BankminorJapanese banking partners offering free instant deposit services for JPY transfers to bitFlyer Japan platform. These partnerships enable seamless fiat on-ramp for Japanese customers.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights7 records
bitFlyer Holdings competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- bitbank: bitbank is a Japanese cryptocurrency exchange offering spot trading, leveraged positions, and staking services. Directly competes with bitFlyer in Japan with similar product offerings for retail and professional traders.
- Bitstamp: Bitstamp is a Luxembourg-based cryptocurrency exchange (oldest still operating) offering trading and staking services. Comparable to bitFlyer in EU regulatory positioning and emphasis on institutional-grade services.
- Kraken: Kraken is a US-based cryptocurrency exchange offering spot trading, staking, custody, and institutional services similar to bitFlyer. Both operate with strong security track records and serve sophisticated traders through advanced APIs and competitive fee structures.
- Gemini: Gemini is a US-based regulated cryptocurrency exchange founded by the Winklevoss twins, offering retail and institutional trading, custody, and staking services. Comparable to bitFlyer in regulatory-first positioning and emphasis on security and compliance.
- Crypto.com: Crypto.com is a global cryptocurrency exchange offering trading, staking, lending, and a crypto credit card (similar to bitFlyer Credit Card). Comparable business model with retail focus and additional financial services like cards and lending.
- Coincheck: Coincheck is a major Japanese cryptocurrency exchange (owned by Monex Group) offering retail trading, staking, and NFT services. Directly competes with bitFlyer in the Japanese market with similar regulated retail-focused offerings.
Regional players
- SBI VC Trade: SBI VC Trade is a Japanese cryptocurrency exchange subsidiary of SBI Holdings, offering trading and staking services. Direct competitor in the Japanese market with similar regulated offerings and connections to traditional financial services.
Broad incumbents
- Binance: Binance is the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, offering comprehensive trading, staking, and custody services. While operating under different regulatory status, it represents the primary competitive threat across all of bitFlyer's markets including Japan, EU, and US.
- Coinbase: Coinbase is the largest publicly traded US cryptocurrency exchange offering similar buy/sell, advanced trading, custody, and staking services. Comparable as a regulated multi-jurisdiction crypto exchange targeting both retail and institutional clients, with broader geographic coverage and product suite.
- OKX: OKX is a global cryptocurrency exchange offering spot trading, derivatives, DeFi, and wallet services. Comparable to bitFlyer Lightning in advanced trading features and API access for sophisticated traders.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
bitFlyer Holdings social profiles
Digital presencebitFlyer Holdings compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
bitFlyer Holdings financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
bitFlyer Holdings leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
bitFlyer Holdings subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
bitFlyer Holdings funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
bitFlyer Holdings M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about bitFlyer Holdings
What does bitFlyer Holdings do?
bitFlyer Holdings is a tri-jurisdiction (Japan, US, Europe/Luxembourg) cryptocurrency exchange operator offering a spot marketplace (Buy/Sell), a professional Lightning exchange with advanced order types and APIs, automated recurring-investment plans, leveraged Crypto CFD, lending/staking, a Bitcoin-rewards credit card, blockchain exploration tools (chainFlyer), and institutional custody and trading services through bitFlyer Prime and the former FTX Japan entity (rebranded New Custody Company). The group serves more than 3 million users globally, has custody of over $5 billion in customer assets, and supports 40+ crypto trading pairs.
Is bitFlyer Holdings a public or private company?
bitFlyer Holdings is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was bitFlyer Holdings founded?
bitFlyer Holdings was founded in 2014. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is bitFlyer Holdings based?
bitFlyer Holdings is headquartered in Akasaka, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does bitFlyer Holdings make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Trading Fees are the primary driver. The others are buy/Sell Spread, cryptocurrency Withdrawal Fees, wire Transfer Fees and crypto CFD Trading.
Who are bitFlyer Holdings's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are bitbank, Bitstamp, Kraken, Gemini, Crypto.com and Coincheck. SBI VC Trade is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Binance, Coinbase and OKX.
Does bitFlyer Holdings have an API?
Yes. bitFlyer provides multiple APIs: (1) bitFlyer Lightning API for trading operations and market data access, (2) chainFlyer API for blockchain exploration and data retrieval, and (3) bitFlyer Lightning API Playground for testing. The APIs enable programmatic trading with complex order types and access to real-time market data. Commercial use, transfer, duplication, and creation of derivative works require pre-approval from bitFlyer. Developer documentation is at lightning.bitflyer.com/docs?lang=en.
What industry is bitFlyer Holdings in?
bitFlyer Holdings's product category is Cryptocurrency Exchange. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSADAHAA, Active Crypto Asset Managers (Discretionary), with a secondary code of FSAPAEAJ, Tokenized Real-World Assets & On-Chain Treasuries (tokenized T-bills, money markets, cash management). Its NAICS code is 5232 and its SIC code is 6200.