News On Japan

PEPE Makes History, the First Meme Coin to be Listed in Japan

Nov 05 (News On Japan) - While crypto as a whole has been the subject of controversy, meme coins have been subject to a special type of vitriol from critics.

Even some of the more ardent crypto lovers have called them everything from a fad to a scam. But despite the naysayers, meme coins continue to succeed in the industry.

Just recently, PEPE made history as the first meme coin to be listed on a Japanese crypto exchange. This shows not just the enduring global demand for meme coins but also their resilience in the face of adversity.

The exchange in question is BITPoint Japan, an exchange that has been licensed since 2016 and operates as a centralized entity. The listing went live on October 30, 2025, and represents a new dawn for the country and the token.

The appetite for crypto tokens as a whole has been ravenous this year. As Hyunsoo Kim says, Web3 token investors are constantly seeking the next big coin (source: https://www.business2community.com/kr/cryptocurrency/best-web3-coins). Thanks to developments like the Bitcoin and Ether spot ETFs have seen more investors turning to tried and tested legacy tokens. At the same time, meme coins have been having a moment, with newer ones raising millions in presale and being welcomed by the public.

It comes as no surprise that the already-established meme coins are being pushed to the forefront. The same is happening with BITPoint, which is running several promotions to get people to buy PEPE. The exchange has announced that it will run a lottery and this will be open to those who purchase PEPE. If they buy at least 10,000 yen worth of PEPE, they will be entered. In the end, 10 winners will be chosen to receive 100,000 yen and the competition ends on November 27, 2024.

The second promotion will be held on Twitter/X and will involve a giveaway. With this amount of push, plus the adoption of crypto in Japan, we can expect to see significant trading volume in the coming months. Even outside of the BITPoint campaigns, many will be incentivized to buy PEPE thanks to its more recent market movements. While the token is in a current dip, many believe that it will recover in the coming months.

Several factors, including the outcome of the US elections, a possible spot ETF, and an end-of-year surge could mean that PEPE could be worth much more. Some investors will take advantage of the current situation to ‘buy the dip’ and then resell their tokens at a later date.

But beyond the benefit that this development will have for PEPE itself, other meme coins will be in a better place. Meme coins, as we’ve said, have faced a lot of stigma and pushback and this has inevitably affected their chances of being listed on top exchanges. But should PEPE do well on BITPoint, both it and other meme coins could have a wider presence in Japan.

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Ceremonies celebrating those turning 20 were held across Japan on January 12th, with events taking place nationwide to mark Coming of Age Day.

The Wall Street Journal reported on January 8th, citing two Chinese exporters, that the Chinese government has started imposing limits on shipments of rare earths and related materials bound for Japan.

Osamu Suwa, an astronaut with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), is set to undertake his first long-term stay aboard the International Space Station, becoming the eighth Japanese astronaut to do so.

A traditional New Year event known as the “Lucky Man Selection,” in which participants compete to be the first to pray for the new year, was held on January 10th at Nishinomiya Shrine in Hyogo Prefecture, the head shrine of “Ebessan,” the deity of prosperous business.

According to vehicle-by-model new car sales figures released on January 8th by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association and the National Light Motor Vehicle Association, the best-selling vehicle in Japan in 2025 was Honda’s light vehicle N-BOX, marking its fourth consecutive year at the top of the rankings.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Web3 NEWS

Tokyo University professor Yutaka Matsuo said he expects the global balance of power in artificial intelligence to change sharply in 2026, arguing that breakthroughs in chips, robotics and autonomous driving could quickly reshape which companies, and which countries, lead the field.

An era of “physical AI,” in which artificial intelligence directly controls and moves objects in the real world, is beginning, and while Japan has lagged behind in generative AI, the country is now aiming to regain ground by leveraging its long-standing strengths in manufacturing and robotics.

The Asia-Pacific casino gambling market is set to expand significantly over the coming decade or so.

The world’s largest technology showcase, CES 2026, is opening in the United States, with a new keyword drawing attention this year: “physical AI,” a concept focused on making everyday life easier through machines that combine artificial intelligence with physical bodies.

In many parts of the world, digital entertainment didn’t arrive through living-room consoles or high-end computers—it arrived in a pocket.

Quantum computing is beginning to attract attention as the next major investment theme following the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, with growing interest reflected not only in technology circles but also among individual investors attending seminars and market briefings.

Cryptocurrencies have long been a tool for investors to protect the value of their assets. In Japan, where the value of the Yen has been consistently dropping for months, investors are turning to Ethereum as a hedge against the inflation of their local currency.

A new chapter is emerging in the race for AI semiconductors, as a Japanese startup founded by former PlayStation chip engineers sets its sights on challenging industry giant Nvidia with a radically different approach to processor design.