Crypto

SBI VC Trade delivered the most significant news in the crypto industry this week. The company announced on October 6 that it had completed a security token proof-of-concept and, at the same time, rolled out a recurring investment campaign, making it the freshest topic among recent developments. On the performance front, bitFlyer touted that it remained the No. 1 domestic Bitcoin trading volume exchange in the first half of 2026, underscoring its steady presence.

Moves by exchanges in products and organization also came in quick succession. Coincheck newly launched leveraged trading within its app, drawing attention from existing users. From an industry consolidation perspective, bitbank's announcement of a basic agreement on joining the SBI Group drew attention as it may affect the power balance among domestic exchanges. GMO Coin continued rolling out new products, including starting to handle the ZPG series, while BITPOINT has remained near the top in spot trading rankings and exchange comparison surveys. Rakuten Wallet was shown in surveys to be preferred by high-income earners, and its tie-up with the Rakuten ecosystem was cited as a strength. bitTrade announced the handling of a token that is a first in Japan, emphasizing its novelty. LINE BITMAX has maintained its presence by remaining among the candidates in existing usage-intent surveys, and OKJ continues to be named in the context of exchange comparisons.

Institutional moves such as proof-of-concept trials and business alliances advanced at the same time as product-side moves such as launching new products and new token listings, and the domestic crypto exchange industry went through a week in which both consolidation and expansion intertwined.