Zaif - Crypto Exchange Details

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Zaif is a Japanese cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2014 and operated by Tech Bureau Corp, based in Osaka, Japan. The exchange was one of the early pioneers of the Japanese digital asset trading market and established itself as an innovative platform that supported not only major cryptocurrencies but also token issuances and blockchain-based virtual currency projects. Zaif became known for its forward-thinking approach to the blockchain ecosystem during the rapid expansion of the Japanese crypto market in the mid-2010s.

The exchange offers spot trading for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Monacoin, and other digital assets, paired primarily against the Japanese Yen (JPY). Zaif historically provided a unique feature set including support for Japan-specific virtual currencies such as Monacoin, one of the country's earliest altcoins. The platform also supported margin trading at various points in its history, as well as a services for issuing custom tokens on its own blockchain infrastructure. A mobile application and API were made available for retail and developer users.

Zaif's trading fee structure has been 0% for makers and a small fee for takers, reflecting its market-making incentive model. The exchange was particularly recognized for low-cost trading in the Japanese market and for its listing of domestic community tokens. Zaif was involved in a significant security breach in September 2018, in which approximately 6.7 billion JPY worth of cryptocurrency was stolen, following which the exchange reorganized under new management and underwent a substantial recovery and restructuring process.

Following the 2018 incident, Zaif significantly upgraded its security architecture, implementing enhanced cold storage protocols, strengthened multi-layer authentication, and overhauled its internal security audit procedures to meet the heightened expectations of the Japan Financial Services Agency (FSA). As a registered and licensed entity under the FSA's Crypto Asset Exchange Service Provider framework, Zaif operates under strict Japanese regulatory oversight, including mandatory AML, KYC, and customer fund segregation requirements.