As Japan Tightens Crypto Regulations, Africa Embraces the Stablecoin Era

Bybit, recognized as one of the leading cryptocurrency exchanges globally, has revealed plans to halt new user sign-ups on its Japanese platform starting October 31, 2025. This decision comes as a response to increased oversight from Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA). The announcement highlights the mounting regulatory demands faced by international crypto exchanges to adhere to more rigorous investor protection standards in Japan, a country known for its strict digital asset regulations. Bybit clarified that this suspension is a short-term step intended to ensure compliance with FSA guidelines, giving the company time to assess and modify its business practices to satisfy local regulations, as reported by a

This move is part of a wider pattern of regulatory tightening in Japan, where authorities have stepped up efforts to address risks linked to unlicensed exchanges. The FSA previously issued warnings to Bybit in both 2021 and 2023 for operating without proper registration, and this latest measure appears to be a direct reaction to those concerns. Bybit assured that current Japanese customers will not experience service interruptions, but the creation of new accounts will be on hold until the platform fully meets regulatory standards. This approach is consistent with Japan’s ongoing initiative to bring digital assets under its securities regulations, a process that has accelerated since 2023, according to the LiveBitcoinNews article.

In another major development, African fintech leader Flutterwave has joined forces with blockchain infrastructure company Polygon to introduce a stablecoin-powered cross-border payment platform. The partnership seeks to utilize Polygon’s fast and affordable blockchain technology to cut down on transaction costs and delays for African businesses and consumers, who often face remittance fees above 7%. Flutterwave CEO Olugbenga Agboola pointed out that stablecoins could transform Africa’s financial landscape, noting that this integration will support instant and affordable international payments, as detailed in a

The initial rollout of this project, scheduled for later this year, will focus on enterprise clients like Uber and Audiomack, with intentions to extend the service to individual remittances via Flutterwave’s Send App by 2026. This initiative reflects a broader move toward blockchain-driven solutions for international payments, with stablecoins providing protection against currency instability and excessive fees. According to a 2024 Chainalysis study, stablecoin remittances in Sub-Saharan Africa were 60% less expensive than traditional options—a trend Flutterwave and Polygon hope to expand throughout the region, as outlined in the CoinDesk article.