bitbank is one of Japan's leading cryptocurrency exchanges, particularly well-regarded among experienced traders for its competitive fees and professional-grade charting tools. Founded in 2014, bitbank has consistently ranked among the top exchanges in Japan by BTC spot trading volume and is known for offering some of the tightest spreads in the domestic market.
About bitbank
bitbank, Inc. was established in 2014 and launched its exchange in 2016. Unlike Coincheck or bitFlyer which target mainstream users, bitbank has positioned itself as a professional trading platform. It offers TradingView-powered charts directly integrated into the trading interface — a feature that sets it apart from competitors that use basic candlestick displays.
bitbank holds a registration with Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) and is a member of the Japan Virtual and Crypto Assets Exchange Association (JVCEA). The exchange has maintained a clean security record and has never suffered a major hack, which is a key selling point for security-conscious traders.
Key Company Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 |
| Exchange Launch | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan |
| Regulation | FSA Japan, JVCEA member |
| Supported Coins | 40+ cryptocurrencies |
| Maker Fee | -0.02% (rebate) |
| Taker Fee | 0.12% |
Key Features
Maker Rebate — Negative Fees
One of bitbank's most attractive features is its maker fee structure: instead of charging a fee for limit orders that add liquidity to the order book, bitbank pays traders a -0.02% rebate. This means market makers actually earn money for each trade placed on the order book. For active traders who frequently use limit orders, this can significantly reduce — and even eliminate — trading costs.
TradingView Integration
bitbank was among the first Japanese exchanges to integrate TradingView charting directly into its trading interface. This allows traders to use dozens of technical indicators, draw trend lines, and apply advanced chart analysis without leaving the platform. This professional-grade tooling is a major differentiator from most Japanese domestic exchanges.
Wide Altcoin Selection
bitbank supports 40+ cryptocurrencies, which is among the widest selections of any FSA-registered Japanese exchange. This includes major coins like BTC, ETH, XRP, and BNB, as well as a number of altcoins that are not available on competitors like bitFlyer. XRP/JPY in particular has historically shown excellent liquidity on bitbank.
Advanced Order Types
Beyond basic market and limit orders, bitbank supports stop orders and time-in-force settings. While it doesn't offer the futures/derivatives products available on global exchanges, its spot order book functionality is among the most sophisticated of Japanese domestic platforms.
Fee Structure
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Spot Maker | -0.02% (rebate paid to you) |
| Spot Taker | 0.12% |
| JPY Deposit (bank transfer) | Free |
| JPY Withdrawal | 550–770 JPY |
| BTC Withdrawal | 0.0006 BTC |
| XRP Withdrawal | 0.15 XRP |
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Maker rebate (-0.02%) — earn on limit orders
- TradingView charts integrated natively
- 40+ coins — widest selection among top JP exchanges
- Strong XRP/JPY liquidity
- No security breaches since launch
- FSA-registered and JVCEA member
Cons
- No futures or derivatives trading
- UI can feel complex for beginners
- Withdrawal fees are relatively high
- No recurring purchase (DCA) feature
- No mobile app as polished as Coincheck
Summary
bitbank is the exchange of choice for active spot traders in Japan. The maker rebate system, TradingView integration, and wide altcoin selection make it a compelling alternative to bitFlyer and Coincheck for anyone who trades regularly. Particularly for XRP or altcoin holders, bitbank often offers better pricing and deeper order books than the competition.
The main drawback is that bitbank lacks derivatives products and may not be as beginner-friendly as Coincheck. But for experienced traders looking for the lowest-cost spot trading in Japan, bitbank is hard to beat.