Minimum Age to Trade Crypto in Japan: Rules by Exchange

At what age can you start trading crypto assets (also known as virtual currencies)? This is a common question, especially for minors and for parents of children who want to know when their kids can begin trading.

Under current Japanese law, there is no confirmed regulation setting a minimum age for simply holding crypto assets. However, to actually trade, you must meet the age requirements set by each individual crypto asset exchange, and some exchanges may not allow you to trade at all depending on your age.

This article explains at what age you can start trading crypto assets in Japan, along with essential precautions that minors should keep in mind before trading.

What Age Can You Start Trading Crypto Assets?

To buy or sell crypto assets, you generally need to open an account with an exchange. Japan has numerous exchanges, and while each sets its own age limit, these limits vary from exchange to exchange. For example, bitFlyer, one such exchange, does not allow account openings for anyone under 18, as shown below.

We apologize, but account creation is currently not available for anyone under the age of 18. Additionally, following the lowering of the age of adulthood under the Civil Code from 20 to 18 on April 1, 2022, we changed the minimum age for starting spot trading from 20 to 18, effective June 1, 2022.

*While you can open a new account and use our spot trading service from age 18, the minimum age to start using our margin trading service is 20.

Source: bitFlyer official website

Following the lowering of the age of adulthood under the Civil Code to 18, an increasing number of crypto exchanges now allow account opening from age 18. However, some exchanges still require a minimum age of 20, so it's important to check each exchange's requirements before opening an account.

Additionally, even at exchanges that allow account opening from age 18, some set the minimum age for margin trading (leveraged trading) at 20, given the greater risks involved.

Crypto Exchanges with Different Age Limits

As noted above, most exchanges set their age limit at either 18 or 20.

Below is a summary of exchanges organized by their respective age requirements.

Crypto Exchanges That Allow Account Opening from Age 18 (Including Minors)

Crypto Exchanges That Require a Minimum Age of 20

5 Key Precautions for Young People Trading Crypto Assets

Trading crypto assets carries a certain level of risk and responsibility, regardless of your age or experience. Beyond significant price volatility, there are several things you should understand beforehand, including how trading works, tax treatment, and how to judge the reliability of information.

Starting to trade without understanding these points can lead not only to financial losses but also to conflicts with family and others, as well as problems that become difficult to resolve later. The precautions below apply regardless of age and are worth keeping in mind whenever you trade crypto assets.

Crypto Trading Is Fundamentally Your Own Responsibility

As a rule, crypto trading is entirely at your own responsibility, regardless of age. Being a minor or young trader does not earn you any leniency — losses are not compensated, and responsibility for trading outcomes is not reduced.

Neither exchanges nor any third party will take responsibility for losses due to price movements or for outcomes resulting from operational or judgment errors. For this reason, it's important for young people to thoroughly discuss the decision with family — especially a parent or legal guardian — before starting to trade crypto assets.

Matters such as the source of funds, whose name the account is held in, and how to handle any resulting tax obligations often cannot be resolved by the individual alone, and situations requiring explanation or action later on are common. Correctly understanding the scope of your own responsibility before you start trading crypto assets is essential to avoiding unnecessary trouble.

Trading should always be approached in a manageable way, with the understanding that it is fundamentally your own responsibility.

Trade Only with Disposable Funds

As a basic rule, crypto trading should be done only with disposable funds that won't affect your daily life. Disposable funds are money you could afford to lose without disrupting your daily life or future plans — this does not include funds earmarked for near-term expenses such as living costs or tuition.

Among young people, it's common to see part-time job earnings or money sent from family used as trading funds. Some also use borrowed money, credit cards, or funds temporarily entrusted to them by a third party for crypto trading — but this should be avoided from a risk-management standpoint.

Crypto assets can be highly volatile, and losses larger than expected can occur in a short period of time. For example, Bitcoin was worth approximately ¥15 million on January 15, 2026, but had fallen to approximately ¥11.4 million by February 4 — about three weeks later — a drop of 24%.

Before trading crypto assets, think through how you would be affected if this money were to decrease, and clearly define your disposable-fund limit before you begin.

Don't Trust Information from Social Media or DMs

As a general rule, it's important to approach crypto-related information on social media with distrust. This is because messages using phrases such as "guaranteed profit," "limited time only," or "exclusive information" are, in most cases, likely to be scams or misleading.

There is no shortage of cases, particularly among young people, of being approached by someone met on social media who recommends purchasing crypto assets or using a specific service, resulting in fraud or unfavorable transactions. In fact, this problem is serious enough that Japan's Government Public Relations Online has issued warnings, and crypto scams targeting young people remain widespread.

There has been a rise in cases where people are drawn into fraud or malicious trouble that starts on dating apps or social media. Naturally, you should be wary of solicitations from unknown businesses, but also be cautious of phrases like "it's guaranteed to go up," "you're sure to profit," "earn money with no effort," or "now's your chance" from someone you met on a dating app, saw posted on social media, or even from an acquaintance.

If you receive a suspicious solicitation, firmly decline it and consult a support hotline or your nearest police station.

Source: Government Public Relations Online

When trading crypto assets, the basic rule is to base your decisions on primary sources, such as an exchange's official website or published materials. Trading based on third-party anecdotes or rumors only increases your own risk unnecessarily.

Don't Tell Others That You're Trading

It's important not to discuss your crypto trading activity or holdings with people around you. Carelessly sharing this information on social media, at school, or at work in particular can lead to unexpected trouble.

Because crypto assets carry monetary value, bringing them up as a topic risks making you a target for solicitation or fraud, or drawing excessive attention from others. Information such as "I'm making money" or "I'm losing money" can also easily create friction or misunderstandings in relationships and is a common source of later trouble.

Furthermore, discussing your trading activity with others can unintentionally reveal personal information or the state of your assets.

Not just with crypto assets, but with assets and investments in general, be careful about how you handle this kind of information, and avoid casually disclosing it to those around you.

You May Need to File a Tax Return

If you make a profit from crypto trading, you may be required to file a final tax return (kakutei shinkoku), regardless of your age. This applies even to students and minors.

In Japan, profits from selling crypto assets, exchanging them for cash, or converting them into other crypto assets are, in principle, subject to tax. If your profit exceeds a certain threshold, you must file a tax return regardless of whether you have employment income.

As of July 2026, crypto asset gains are taxed as miscellaneous income under Japan's progressive tax system, and any losses can only be offset against other miscellaneous income — they cannot be offset against salary or other income categories. On July 15, 2026, the Diet passed an amendment to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA) that will reclassify crypto assets as financial products under that law; once the revised law takes effect (expected around January 2028), a flat 20% separate self-assessment tax rate is expected to apply instead.

One point to be especially mindful of is dependent status. If your income from crypto trading grows large enough, you may fall outside the conditions for being claimed as a dependent by a parent, which can increase your family's overall tax burden.

Don't assume "it's such a small amount it doesn't matter" or "I'm young so it's fine" — you should proceed on the assumption that any profit may require tax action on your part. If you're unsure about anything, consulting a tax office or a professional early on can help prevent problems later.

Conclusion

Since most exchanges require a minimum age of 18 for crypto trading, minors generally cannot use them. Some exchanges also require a minimum age of 20, or set the minimum age for margin trading (leveraged trading) at 20, so even those aged 18 or 19 must check the specific requirements beforehand.

Crypto trading is fundamentally your own responsibility. For young people, the effects of trading can extend to family and others around them, so careful judgment is required.

Starting crypto trading casually can lead to problems. Take your age, purpose, and the nature of the trading into account, calmly consider whether you're prepared to face the risks, and only then begin.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Please consult a qualified professional before making investment decisions.