Global cryptocurrency exchange Binance announced a significant expansion of its Japanese market access on January 9, 2025, with the listing of new spot trading pairs for FET/JPY and TAO/JPY. Trading for these pairs commenced precisely at 8:00 a.m. UTC, which corresponds to 5:00 p.m. Japan Standard Time, allowing local traders immediate participation.
This strategic move directly connects two prominent artificial intelligence and blockchain infrastructure tokens—Fetch.ai (FET) and Bittensor (TAO)—with Japanese yen trading. Previously, Japanese investors needed to convert through intermediary cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Tether, incurring additional fees and complexity. The new listings provide direct fiat access, potentially increasing trading volume and liquidity for these specialized assets.
Binance's expansion follows a pattern of strategic JPY pair additions throughout 2024, targeting Japan's growing retail and institutional cryptocurrency interest. The exchange operates in Japan through its fully registered local entity, Binance Japan K.K., under the oversight of the Japanese Financial Services Agency (FSA). This regulatory compliance provides Japanese investors with enhanced security compared to offshore platforms while offering international traders yen exposure.
Fetch.ai (FET) is a decentralized machine learning network that enables autonomous economic agents for tasks like data analysis and trading. Bittensor (TAO) is a decentralized machine learning protocol that incentivizes collaborative AI model training. Market analysts view the listings as a response to growing Japanese institutional interest in decentralized AI infrastructure.
Financial technology expert Dr. Kenji Tanaka of the Tokyo Digital Asset Institute noted, "Binance recognizes Japan’s sophisticated investor base for technology-focused assets. Direct JPY pairs for AI tokens reflect growing institutional interest in decentralized artificial intelligence infrastructure." A Binance Japan spokesperson stated the listings respond directly to community requests and market analysis.
Technically, the FET/JPY pair supports eight decimal places for FET and two for JPY, while TAO/JPY allows nine decimal places for TAO against two for JPY. Market data from similar previous listings suggests initial volatility may be followed by stabilization within two weeks. All trading complies with Japanese financial regulations, with standard Binance spot trading fees applying.
