Account Creation

FATCA (=Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) is a U.S. tax law designed to prevent individuals or corporations with tax obligations in the U.S. (hereinafter referred to as "U.S. persons") from hiding assets and avoiding taxes by using accounts held at foreign financial institutions outside the U.S.

When opening a new account, we may ask the following customers to submit additional documents in order to confirm whether they are a U.S. person.

Individual customers:

When the identification documents or other application documents submitted by the customer contain information that suggests the possibility of the customer being a U.S. person (U.S. telephone number, address, instructions for regular fund transfers to the U.S., etc.) and it is necessary to confirm whether the customer is a U.S. person or not.

Corporate Customers:


When the identification documents, other application documents submitted by the customer or official information contain information that suggest the possibility that one of the following applies

When the customer is a financial institution located outside of Japan (excluding branches located in Japan).

When the applicant is a legal entity established for the purpose of investment or management.

When it is necessary to confirm the business entity.




We reserve the right to refuse your request to create an account, or to subject your account information to reporting to the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), depending on the status and content of your submission of the required documents.



In addition, we ask all corporate clients to select what is applicable for them from the following five items in order to confirm that the client is a U.S. person, etc. at the time of opening a new account.



(1) None of the following (2), (3), (4), or (5) applies.


▼Specific examples include the following:
General corporation (NFEE: Foreign entity from the perspective of the U.S. other than a financial institution)

Business corporation and its holding company (entities whose investment income accounts for less than 50% of their total income and whose assets generating investment income account for less than 50% of their total assets)
Publicly traded companies and their affiliates
Organizations established for religious, charitable, scientific, artistic, cultural, educational, or other purposes, or professional associations, business federations, chambers of commerce and industry, labor organizations, or other organizations operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare.
Voluntary associations whose purpose can be confirmed by their constitution and bylaws (associations and foundations without legal capacity)
Newly established companies (within 24 months of incorporation)



(2) Financial institutions in the countries participating in the FATCA Agreement:


Financial institutions located in the FATCA signatory countries (including branches located in the signatory countries of financial institutions outside the signatory countries)



(3) Financial institutions located in countries that are not participating in the FATCA Agreement


Financial institutions that have obtained a GIIN (Global Intermediary Identification Number) or are deemed to have complied with the FFI requirements by registering with the IRS (U.S. Internal Revenue Service), establishing internal regulations, etc., even though they are located in a non-participating country.
Financial institutions that do not comply with FATCA

FFIs (*1) other than the above, such as sworn deemed-compliant FFIs (*2), owner disclosure FFIs (*3), etc.

*1 FFIs: custodian institutions, depository institutions, investment entities, specified insurance corporations, affiliated holding companies or finance companies, etc.

*2 Deemed sworn compliance FFI: An FFI that is deemed to have complied with FFI requirements only by swearing an oath to another FFI.
*3 Owner Disclosure FFI: An FFI that is deemed to have complied with FFI requirements by providing customer information to another financial institution, which in turn reports the information to the IRS.



(4) Ineligible beneficiaries


The Japanese government and its subordinate government agencies, including local governments, or organizations or institutions wholly owned by the aforementioned government agencies, etc.
The Bank of Japan and its subordinate organizations wholly owned by the Bank of Japan

International organizations
Public institutions for the purpose of industrial development
Pension funds that meet the requirements of the U.S.-Japan Tax Treaty



(5) Passive NFFEs


General corporation (NFEE: a foreign entity from the perspective of the U.S. other than a financial institution) that is primarily engaged in the investment business.


▼Specific examples include the following:

Private equity funds
Hedge funds
Venture capital
Moneylenders
Goods lessor engaged in leasing business, etc.



Even if the above applies, there may be cases that do not qualify as passive NFFE.)

Go to the account creation page, enter your email address, and press the “Sign Up for Free” button.

Once your email address is registered, a dialog box to enter a keyword will appear.
From here, check the inbox for the email address you registered for an email titled “bitFlyer - Account Registration Confirmation.” Copy the keyword from the body of the email and paste it into the dialog box and press the “create an account” button.

A dialog box will appear asking you to agree to our Terms of Use and other documents. Please read our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, Risks of Using Virtual Currency, and Written Explanation on Virtual Currency Trading
(Document Requiring User Agreement).

If you agree to them and are not a resident of the United States, check the four boxes and click the “Agree” button.

This completes the account creation process.

Opening an account with bitFlyer is free.

We confirm your bank account with your using your registered information and report those results to you.

Please understand that it may take a few days for approval.

If your registration is not approved, please reconfirm your bank account information or consider registering a different bank account.

Once your bank account information is confirmed, we will begin confirming JPY deposits for your account.

You may register an account from a financial institution other than the one used at the time of the deposit.

If you do not receive the SMS message, it may be that your carrier does not accept SMS messages from international numbers. Please confirm if this applies to your mobile carrier.

You can also try to receive your code via audio message.

You will find the keyword in the email titled "bitFlyer - Account Registration Confirmation" sent to you at the time of registration. After entering the keyword into the account registration screen, you will be able to proceed with account creation.

The following items are required in order to complete your account information. all of the following requirements must be satisfied.

For personal accounts:

• Register your personal information
• Submit your proof of identity
  * For a list of acceptable documents and details, please refer to the link below.
  Proof of Identity
  
• Confirm your purpose of use

For corporate accounts:

• Company information
• Trade manager information
• UBO
• Certificate of corporate registration
• Receipt of registered mail

Please use the Account Information section on the right side of the home screen after logging in to register the required information and submit the required documents. Once these have been registered and submitted, we will send a piece of registered mail to confirm your registered address.

You can log in by entering your registered email address and password here.

* More information on quick ID verification can be found here.

*More information on in-person ID verification can be found here. here.

No. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we do not perform account information screenings for those residing outside of Japan.

Residents of EU countries can make an account here.

Residents of the United States can make an account here.

The types of corporations that can be registered are limited to company limited (kabushiki kaisha), limited company (yugen kaisha), limited liability company (godo kaisha), partnerships in commendam and incorporated associations. Organizations such as clubs cannot be registered.

To create a corporate account, please go to "Create an Account" and select "Corporate Customers" to create an account.

*Please do so from your computer browser.

We will ask you to submit an original copy of a certificate of corporate registration* and proof of identity documents of the trade manager. In addition to your corporate information, proof of identity for the UBO and trade manager need to be registered.

The registered bank account must have the same name as your company's registered name.

* Certificate of Corporate Registration

* Certificate of corporate registration or certified original copy with the registrar’s seal clearly photographed

• The name of the company, the address of the head office or principal office, the description of the business, and the officer with authority to represent the company must be included in the document. Ensure that they are the same as those entered on the registration screen. If the trade manager is not registered as the officer with authority to represent the company in the Certificate of Corporate Registration, an authorization letter is required.

• Ensure that the date of issue is within 6 months of the submission.

• Ensure that corporate registration number is clear and readable.

* Please submit an original corporate registration document issued by the government including the company name and the address of the head office or principal office.

* Please also submit an official corporate document required by law in your jurisdiction that contain the description of the business (and the officer with authority to represent the company unless you submit an authorization letter confirming the trade manager's trading authority).

* Ensure that the documents are within 6 months of issuance and have not expired.

* Ensure that information written in the documents are the same as those entered on the registration screen.

* Please add a handwritten statement saying "This is a true copy of the document presented to me."

* If your company's documents are written in a language that does not use the Latin alphabet, please translate and attach the following statement: "I hereby certify that the above translation of an official copy of my (document type) is accurate.

(Name and translation date)

(Signature)"

*It is your responsibility to follow the rules and regulations in your country of residence and/or home jurisdiction when taking part in any trades.

No, only one account may be registered per user.

If you have an unused account, you can close it here.

Foreign PEPs are those who fall under either the following 1 or 2.

1. A person who falls or has fallen under any of the following:

2. Relatives of those listed in 1. (including spouses, de facto marriage, parents, siblings, and parents and children of spouses other than those listed above).

From the inquiry form, select “Update my registered information.”

You can also contact our call center for general inquiries (only available in Japanese).

After an initial confirmation, we will guide you on how to make the correction.

You can not specify a specific time for delivery.

Please choose a time frame when you will be available to receive it. If you miss the delivery, please request a redelivery.

If you missed the delivery:

The letter will be held by Sagawa Express for a certain period of time. Please request a redelivery from your local branch of Sagawa Express within the designated time.

*This letter is required to complete your ID verification. The letter can not be forwarded or delivered to a place of business. Please ensure that your request in-person ID verification at your place of residence.

Alternatively, you can perform quick ID verification on a smartphone.

An ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) refers to any individual who either holds at least 25% of the company’s voting rights either directly or indirectly, or holds influence equivalent to that of a UBO through investment, financing, dealing, or other business relationship at the corresponding company. We require corporate accounts to register the name, address, and date of birth of any such individuals.

*Not required for listed companies, countries, or local public bodies.

*If no individual meets these criteria, please use the company’s representative director who has the power to make decisions on the company’s operations.

For publicly traded companies, limited companies, investment corporations, and specified purpose companies (companies where decisions are made by majority asset holders):

1) If any individual (*1) holds over 50% of the total voting rights either directly or indirectly (*2), that individual is the only UBO for the corresponding company.

2) If there is no one who meets the criteria in 1), any individual (*1) who holds at least 25% of voting (directly or indirectly; *2) is a UBO for the corresponding company.

3) If there is no one who meets the criteria in either 1) or 2), any individual (*1) who holds the right to make business decisions equivalent to a UBO (major creditors, chairmen, founders, etc.) at the corresponding company through investment, financing, dealing, or other business relationship will be considered the UBO for the corresponding company.

4) If there is no one who meets the criteria in 1), 2), or 3), the individual (*1) who holds a representative director position with the ability to make business decisions at the corresponding company will be considered the UBO for the corresponding company.

For membership companies, incorporated educational institutions, medical corporations, religious organizations, and general incorporated associations:

1) If any individual (*1) has a right to over 50% of the total earnings for the corresponding company, that individual is the only UBO for the corresponding company.

2) If there is no one who meets the criteria in 1), any individual (*1) has a right to at least 25% of the total earnings for the corresponding company is a UBO for the corresponding company.

3) If there is no one who meets the criteria in either 1) or 2), any individual (*1) who holds the right to make business decisions equivalent to a UBO (major creditors, chairmen, founders, etc.) at the corresponding company through investment, financing, dealing, or other business relationship will be considered the UBO for the corresponding company.

4) If there is no one who meets the criteria in 1), 2), or 3), the individual (*1) who holds a representative director position with the ability to make business decisions at the corresponding company will be considered the UBO for the corresponding company.

*1 For the purpose of defining a UBO, listed companies and their subsidiaries, countries, and local public bodies may correspond to an “individual.”

*2 Indirectly holding refers to a controlling entity with over 50% of voting rights.

Please obtain an original copy of the following.

1. Certificate of payment of national and local taxes

2. Official receipts for payments of Japanese National Health Insurance or National Pension

3. Receipt for the payment of public utilities (electricity, gas, or water)

*Limited to in-person ID verification