How to buy USDC (USD Coin) in Japan

STATUS: LEGAL TO BUY

    Regulator: FSA, Payment Services Act
    As of: June 2026
    Last reviewed: June 26, 2026
  

This is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. It is not a recommendation to buy any asset. Verify the current rules with a qualified local professional and the official regulator before acting.

Quick answer

Buying USDC is legal in Japan as of June 2026. USDC was the first foreign dollar stablecoin approved for domestic distribution under the revised Payment Services Act, and SBI VC Trade, a registered platform supervised by the Financial Services Agency, listed it for yen buyers in March 2025. You complete identity verification, deposit yen, and buy. Profits from crypto assets are generally taxed as miscellaneous income. This page explains the steps, not whether to buy.

Is buying USDC legal in Japan

Yes. Buying, holding, and selling USDC is legal in Japan as of June 2026. USDC is a stablecoin issued by Circle that aims to track the value of the United States dollar. Japan amended the Payment Services Act to create a framework for stablecoins, which it treats as electronic payment instruments, and a platform that offers them to residents must be registered and supervised by the Financial Services Agency (FSA). USDC became the first foreign dollar stablecoin cleared for domestic distribution under this framework, with SBI VC Trade listing it for yen buyers in March 2025. The practical effect is that you can buy USDC through a registered distributor rather than facing any ban on the asset.

The steps to buy compliantly

1. Choose a registered platform that distributes USDC

Pick a platform registered with the FSA that currently distributes USDC. As of June 2026 SBI VC Trade is the registered distributor that listed USDC for yen buyers, and other registered platforms may add it over time. Confirm the platform is FSA registered and currently offers USDC before you sign up.

2. Complete identity verification

Under Japanese anti money laundering rules, registered platforms verify your identity before you can trade. You will usually provide identity documents and complete a verification check, after which your account is enabled.

3. Deposit yen and buy

Fund the account with Japanese yen through the platform's supported methods, such as bank transfer, then place an order for USDC. Payment options and fees vary by platform, so check the current methods. Because USDC tracks a dollar value, its price in yen still moves with the dollar to yen exchange rate.

4. Keep records and consider storage

Keep records of the purchase date, amount, and price, because you will need them to calculate miscellaneous income when you sell or convert USDC. You can leave USDC in custody on the platform or move it to a wallet you control. Be cautious of any product that promises a fixed yield on USDC and confirm how it works before committing funds.

The tax to plan for

Not tax advice, verify before filing

In Japan, profits from crypto assets including a stablecoin such as USDC are generally treated as miscellaneous income, as of June 2026. That income is combined with your other income and taxed at progressive national income tax rates, with local inhabitant tax on top, so the effective rate can be high. A taxable event typically arises when you sell USDC for yen, swap it for another crypto asset, or use it to pay for something. Because USDC tracks a dollar value, a realised gain is often small, but a swap is still a disposal that must be assessed. The National Tax Agency administers the rules, and reform of how crypto is taxed has been discussed publicly. See the Japan crypto tax page for the full detail, and confirm your treatment with a qualified Japanese tax professional before filing.

Where to buy

A registered platform serving Japan distributes USDC for yen buyers as of June 2026, with SBI VC Trade the platform that first listed it. Compare registration, fees, and supported assets before you sign up, and confirm the current listing with the platform. This is a description of availability, not a recommendation or a ranking.

Act legally in Japan

Compare exchanges available to Japan users

USDC is distributed in Japan by SBI VC Trade, a registered platform supervised by the FSA. See the available options side by side, then verify the FSA registration and that the platform offers USDC before you sign up.

Compare available exchanges

Regulator and sources

Financial Services Agency (FSA) supervision of stablecoins as electronic payment instruments and of registered distributors under the revised Payment Services Act, current to June 2026.
SBI VC Trade the registered platform that listed USDC for yen buyers in March 2025 as the first foreign dollar stablecoin cleared for domestic distribution.
National Tax Agency (NTA) on the treatment of crypto profits as miscellaneous income.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to buy USDC in Japan?

Yes. Buying, holding, and selling USDC is legal in Japan as of June 2026. USDC was the first foreign dollar stablecoin approved for domestic distribution under the revised Payment Services Act, and it is offered by a registered exchange supervised by the Financial Services Agency. This is general information, not advice.

Which platform sells USDC in Japan?

As of June 2026 SBI VC Trade, a registered platform supervised by the Financial Services Agency, distributes USDC in Japan, having listed it for yen buyers in March 2025. Other registered platforms may add USDC over time, so confirm the current listing before you sign up.

How is USDC taxed in Japan?

In Japan, profits from crypto assets including a stablecoin such as USDC are generally treated as miscellaneous income, as of June 2026, and taxed at progressive rates that combine with other income, with local inhabitant tax on top. The National Tax Agency administers the rules. This is not tax advice.

Is USDC a regulated stablecoin in Japan?

Yes. As of June 2026 USDC is distributed in Japan under the stablecoin framework of the revised Payment Services Act, supervised by the Financial Services Agency, through a registered distributor. It was the first foreign dollar stablecoin cleared for domestic use. Confirm the current status before acting.

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Risk and change note: Japan's crypto rules and tax treatment are under active discussion, and the set of platforms distributing USDC can change over time. The positions above carry an as of date and were last reviewed on June 26, 2026. Confirm the current FSA registration, the listing of USDC, and the tax treatment with the platform, the FSA, and a qualified professional before you act. Nothing here is investment advice.

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Written and reviewed by the wherelegalcrypto editorial team, Morten Andersen and Fredrik Filipsson. Each status is checked against the named regulator and dated. See our editorial standards.