Japan2026-10-04 05:56:30Japan adds Garantex to asset-freeze sanctions list in new Russia measuresJapan announced a new round of sanctions on Russia on Oct. 2, adding 33 entities and nine individuals to its asset-freeze list. The newly designated targets include Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex. The measures also restrict payments to, and capital transactions with, the sanctioned parties. Garantex had already been sanctioned by the United States, the European Union and other jurisdictions over allegations that it helped related Russian entities evade financial sanctions. The update was reported by Techub News, citing the Japanese government’s announcement.40
Japan2026-10-04 05:36:46Japan adds Russia sanctions, including a group tied to crypto-based sanctions evasionJapan has decided at a cabinet meeting to impose additional sanctions on Russia, according to a report by Nikkei cited by Cankao Xiaoxi and relayed by ChainCatcher. The new measures target 35 vessels in Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” which has been used to secretly transport crude oil to avoid Western sanctions. Under the decision, Japan will in principle ban the provision of operational support, maintenance, insurance and financing services to those ships. Separately, the Japanese government added 33 Russian military-related organizations and nine individuals to a new asset-freeze list. The list includes a group accused of using crypto assets, or virtual currencies, to evade financial sanctions. The move places crypto within a broader sanctions-enforcement framework rather than as a standalone policy step, based on the details provided in the report.20
bitFlyer2026-10-02 10:54:53bitFlyer to launch anti-scam Cooldown, restricting outbound transfers for part of new users’ assets for 48 hoursJapan’s largest crypto exchange, bitFlyer, said it will roll out an anti-scam measure called "Cooldown" on Oct. 15. Under the new rule, individual users who completed identity verification less than 90 days ago will face a 48-hour holding period on part of their crypto assets after each yen deposit, during which those assets cannot be sent to external addresses. The restricted amount is calculated as the total yen deposited over the past 48 hours minus 100,000 yen, roughly $634. If cumulative deposits stay at or below 100,000 yen, the rule does not apply. Deposits made through Quick Deposit are exempt. bitFlyer said the measure will not affect yen deposits and withdrawals, crypto trading, holding, or receiving digital assets. The update was carried by Techub News and attributed to Wu Blockchain.20
SMBC Nikko2026-10-02 08:20:45SMBC Nikko and Nethermind target compliance hooks for Uniswap pools in JapanSMBC Nikko Securities and Nethermind are planning compliance hooks for Uniswap pools as part of a Japan-focused DeFi gateway initiative. The effort is tied to a memorandum of understanding that also involves Uniswap Labs, Base, and the Nyx Foundation. Based on the available details, the parties are aiming to complete the project by mid-2027. The disclosed information points to compliance tooling around Uniswap liquidity pools, while no additional technical specifications were provided in the source material. The plan centers on building a DeFi access point for the Japanese market, with the MOU setting out the participating organizations and the target timeline.20
Japan2026-10-01 09:45:19Japanese court says a person’s voice can be protected by publicity rights in Tsuda Kenjiro AI caseA Tokyo court has, for the first time in Japan, said that a person’s voice can fall under publicity rights, extending a legal concept traditionally used to protect the commercial value of a celebrity’s name or likeness. The ruling came in a case brought by voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda, known for roles including Kento Nanami in Jujutsu Kaisen and Hyakunosuke Ogata in Golden Kamuy, against the operator of TikTok over videos that allegedly used generative AI to imitate his voice. The Tokyo District Court ruled on Sept. 30 that a voice, like a likeness, can serve as a symbol of an individual’s identity, and unauthorized use aimed at exploiting its customer appeal may infringe publicity rights. Still, the court rejected Tsuda’s request because the videos at issue had already been removed from the company’s servers. It did not decide whether the videos themselves infringed Tsuda’s rights. The case centers on an anonymous account called Nanami, which reportedly had more than 210,000 followers and posted at least 188 videos between July 2024 and September 2025. The decision is being watched as an early judicial marker for how Japan may handle AI voice imitation, even as questions remain over proof standards, enforcement, and the broader legal treatment of voice in the age of generative AI.00
SBI Holdings2026-10-01 08:00:00SBI Holdings completes full acquisition of crypto exchange BitbankJapanese crypto asset exchange Bitbank said SBI Holdings has completed a full acquisition of the company, making Bitbank a wholly owned subsidiary of SBI Holdings. The transaction was carried out through procedures including Bitbank’s repurchase of its own shares from MIXI and Ceres. Following the completion of the deal, Tomohiko Kondo, president of SBI VC Trade Co., Ltd., will join Bitbank as a director. Bitbank’s current representative director and CEO, Noriyuki Hirose, is expected to become an outside director of SBI VC Trade. The update was reported by Odaily.20
Apollo Global2026-10-01 07:13:47Apollo to back financing for $15 billion AI infrastructure project in JapanApollo Global Management will provide financing support for a $15 billion artificial intelligence infrastructure project in Japan, according to Bloomberg. The move adds to the firm’s investment push in the AI sector. Apollo is joining the project as a strategic investor and financing partner alongside UK developer RHAELM Holdings, Jera, Japan’s largest power company, and Dell Technologies. The project is located in Chiba prefecture and is designed to build infrastructure that can support AI computing demand. Bloomberg identified Apollo’s role as part of a broader financing and strategic partnership structure tied to the development. The report links the deal to Apollo’s continued expansion in AI-related investments, while the project itself centers on data and power infrastructure needed for large-scale AI workloads.00
Japan2026-09-30 12:44:0465-year-old man in Japan loses about $5.26 million in crypto to fake police scamPolice in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, said on Sept. 30 that a 65-year-old man was defrauded of about 826 million yen, or roughly $5.26 million, in crypto assets after being targeted by someone posing as a police officer. According to the notice cited by Techub News, the scammer told the victim that his bank account had been linked to multiple complaints and that his assets needed to be checked to prove his innocence. The man then followed instructions to convert his deposits and securities holdings into cryptocurrency and place the funds into a personal wallet. Between Sept. 7 and Sept. 17, the assets were transferred in 10 transactions to addresses controlled by the scammer. Police are investigating the case as computer fraud. The item was also attributed to Wu Blockchain in the source text.180
