Japan’s Bitbank cracks down on Polymarket-linked transfers
Bitbank warned that customer transactions linked to prediction market platforms such as Polymarket could trigger account restrictions or suspension because of possible conflicts with Japanese gambling laws. The exchange said affected users could lose access to logins, deposits, withdrawals, and crypto trading, and it would not be liable for resulting damages. Bitbank urged caution when using external services and did not cite any specific government order behind the warning. The notice reflects broader regulatory uncertainty around prediction markets in Japan, where no formal guidance specifically addresses them. It also comes as Polymarket faces scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions and has said it is exploring expansion into Japan, even though Japan already lists the country as a restricted jurisdiction.
