Is HTX available in Japan?
The global HTX platform, formerly known as Huobi, is not registered as a crypto asset exchange service provider with the Financial Services Agency of Japan. Japan restricts unregistered foreign exchanges from soliciting residents, so we treat HTX as not available to Japan and do not link to it here.
Information, not advice. This is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify the current rules with a qualified local professional and the official regulator before acting.
How we checked this. We set this status by reading the platform's own terms of use and country eligibility, and the public register kept by the named regulator, then dated the result. Availability can change, so confirm directly with the platform and the regulator before acting. As of 26 June 2026.
No, not as a registered Japanese exchange. As of June 2026 the global HTX platform is not registered as a crypto asset exchange service provider with the Financial Services Agency of Japan. Under the Payment Services Act, a platform serving Japanese residents must hold that registration, and the self regulatory body JVCEA sets industry standards. Huobi once operated a registered Japanese business, but that entity was rebranded and is no longer HTX branded. Because the global HTX platform is not registered in Japan, we treat it as not available and do not link to it here.
What HTX is and the Japan position
HTX is a global cryptocurrency exchange that rebranded from Huobi in 2023. It offers spot and derivatives trading to users in many countries through offshore entities. Japan operates one of the strictest registration systems for crypto exchanges in the world, and the global HTX platform is not part of it.
Under Japan's Payment Services Act, any crypto asset exchange service provider that serves Japanese residents must register with the Financial Services Agency (FSA), and registered providers belong to the self regulatory body, the Japan Virtual and Crypto assets Exchange Association (JVCEA). Foreign platforms are not permitted to solicit Japanese residents without that registration. The global HTX platform does not hold an FSA registration as a Japanese exchange, a position current as of June 2026.
Why HTX is not a registered Japanese exchange
- FSA registration system. A crypto asset exchange service provider serving Japanese residents must register with the Financial Services Agency under the Payment Services Act. The global HTX platform is not on that register (as of June 2026).
- No soliciting without registration. Japan prohibits unregistered foreign exchanges from soliciting Japanese residents, and the FSA has historically issued public warnings to offshore platforms that target Japan without registration (as of June 2026).
- Huobi Japan history. Huobi entered Japan by acquiring a registered exchange and operated as Huobi Japan, but that business was later rebranded, reported as BitTrade, and is no longer HTX branded. The registered Japanese exchange and the global HTX platform are separate (as of June 2026).
- Whitelisted tokens. Japan also restricts which tokens registered exchanges may list through the FSA and JVCEA process, which is another reason an offshore platform's full product set would not map to the Japanese market (as of June 2026).
What this means for Japan residents
Because the global HTX platform is not a registered Japanese exchange, this site does not link to HTX for Japan. Attempting to reach an unregistered offshore platform through a virtual private network can breach its terms of service and can carry legal and financial risk.
Japanese residents who want to use a platform that operates within the rules can choose an exchange registered with the FSA. The alternatives below are a starting point for platforms that serve Japanese residents as of June 2026. Always confirm a platform's current FSA registration before you sign up.
How crypto is taxed in Japan is handled by the National Tax Agency, which generally treats crypto gains as miscellaneous income. See the Japan crypto tax page for a general explanation. This is general information and not tax advice, so verify your position with a qualified professional before filing.
Regulator and sources
The relevant authorities are the Financial Services Agency of Japan for exchange registration, the Japan Virtual and Crypto assets Exchange Association as the self regulatory body, and the National Tax Agency for tax.
- Financial Services Agency of Japan (FSA), the register of crypto asset exchange service providers under the Payment Services Act and public warnings to unregistered foreign platforms.
- Public reporting on Huobi's entry to Japan through an acquired registered exchange and the later rebranding of that business.
- National Tax Agency of Japan, guidance treating crypto gains as miscellaneous income.
The global HTX platform is not a registered Japanese exchange as of June 2026, so this site does not link to it for Japan. Start with FSA registered exchanges and confirm their registration before signing up.
Frequently asked questions
Can Japan residents use HTX?
Not through a registered Japanese service. As of June 2026 the global HTX platform is not registered as a crypto asset exchange service provider with the Financial Services Agency of Japan, and Japan restricts unregistered foreign exchanges from soliciting residents. We treat HTX as not available to Japan and do not link to it here. Confirm the current position before acting.
Did Huobi have a licence in Japan?
Huobi entered Japan by acquiring a registered exchange and operated as Huobi Japan, but that business was later rebranded and is no longer HTX branded. The global HTX platform that operates today is a separate offshore service and is not a registered Japanese exchange as of June 2026.
How does Japan regulate crypto exchanges?
Under the Payment Services Act, a crypto asset exchange service provider serving Japanese residents must register with the Financial Services Agency, and the self regulatory body JVCEA sets industry standards. Foreign platforms cannot solicit Japanese residents without registration. This is current as of June 2026.
Which exchanges are available in Japan instead?
FSA registered exchanges serve Japanese residents as of June 2026, including bitFlyer, Coincheck, and BitTrade. See the best exchanges in Japan page for the current view, and confirm a platform's FSA registration before signing up.
Is HTX the same as Huobi?
HTX is the brand the exchange formerly known as Huobi adopted in 2023. It is the same global platform under a new name, and it is separate from the registered Japanese exchange that once operated as Huobi Japan. This is current as of June 2026.
Rules change frequently. Exchange registration and availability can change at short notice. The position on this page is dated June 2026 and was last reviewed on June 19, 2026. Confirm the current status with the Financial Services Agency of Japan and the platform before you act.
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