GMO Coin review
Updated September 28, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
GMO Coin suits Japanese residents who want a regulated spot exchange with bank deposits and staking, and who can live with a short coin list. Taker fees of 0.05% to 0.09% sit at the low end of exchange rankings, and a licence from the Kanto Local Finance Bureau covers crypto asset exchange services.
Key facts
- Best for
- Japanese residents wanting a low cost regulated spot exchange with staking.
- Taker fee
- 0.05% to 0.09%↗
- Coins listed
- 17↗
- Regulators
- Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Kanto Local Finance Bureau, crypto asset exchange services), Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Type 1 financial instruments business operator)↗
- Fiat deposit methods
- Bank↗
- Maker fee
- -0.03% to -0.01%↗
- Withdrawal fee
- Free (JPY withdrawal, crypto transfer); JPY 400 per large withdrawal above JPY 30,000,001↗
- Derivatives
- Yes↗
- Exchange type
- Cex↗
- Legal entity
- GMO Coin, Inc. (GMOコイン株式会社)↗
- Headquarters
- Japan↗
- Founded
- 2017↗
- Support channels
- Help-centre↗
- Features
- Custodial, Staking
- Official website
- z.com
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 5 sources
Apps and profiles
- Elsewhere
- X
Pros and cons
Pros
- Taker fees of 0.05% to 0.09% sit below the exchange median of 0.2%.
- Maker fees of -0.03% to -0.01% pay a rebate on maker orders rather than a charge.
- Licensed by the Kanto Local Finance Bureau for crypto asset exchange services, listed under Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Kanto Local Finance Bureau, crypto asset exchange services) and Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Type 1 financial instruments business operator).
- Withdrawals in yen and crypto transfers are free, with a charge only on very large yen withdrawals.
Cons
- The coin list is short at 17, against a buy crypto median of 60.
- Support runs through help centre only, with no direct contact channel listed.
- Fiat deposits run through bank only, so cards and instant rails are not part of the picture.
Who it suits
- Japanese residents paying in from a bank account who want a regulated spot market.
- Traders who place maker orders and value the rebate of -0.03% to -0.01%.
- Holders who want staking and a custodial setup, both listed under custodial and staking.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for a long altcoin list: Bitpanda lists from from 650.
- Not if you want no trading commission: ActivTrades takes 0%.
- Not for cheap frequent trading: bunq taker fees run 0.25% to 1.99%.
How GMO Coin compares
9.2 vs 9.5- 9.2 vs 9.3
9.2 vs 9.2
9.2 vs 9.7Charges 0% on trades, where GMO Coin taker fees are 0.05% to 0.09%.
9.2 vs 9.4
9.2 vs 9.6
9.2 vs 9.0
9.2 vs 9.0
9.2 vs 9.0
9.2 vs 9.0
9.2 vs 8.9
9.2 vs 9.0
9.2 vs 8.2
9.2 vs 8.2
9.2 vs 9.7
9.2 vs 9.4
9.2 vs 9.3
9.2 vs 9.2
9.2 vs 9.2
9.2 vs 9.1
9.2 vs 9.0
9.2 vs 8.7
9.2 vs 8.6
Where GMO Coin is available
- Available
- Japan
- Licence in Japan
- Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Kanto Local Finance Bureau, crypto asset exchange services) (No. 00006 (Kanto Local Finance Bureau Director No. 00006, crypto asset exchange business)), checked September 26, 2026
- Licence in Japan
- Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Type 1 financial instruments business operator) (No. 3188 (Kanto Local Finance Bureau Director (kin-sho) No. 3188)), checked September 26, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What does trading cost on GMO Coin?+
Taker fees are 0.05% to 0.09% and maker fees are -0.03% to -0.01%, so maker orders carry a rebate rather than a charge. The taker range sits below the exchange median of 0.2%, which helps regular spot trading.
Is my money safe on GMO Coin?+
Accounts are custodial, as custodial and staking shows, so the exchange holds the assets rather than you holding keys. The operator is GMO Coin, Inc. (GMOコイン株式会社), based in Japan and working under the Kanto Local Finance Bureau.
Which regulator licenses GMO Coin?+
The licences come from the Kanto Local Finance Bureau in Japan, and Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Kanto Local Finance Bureau, crypto asset exchange services) and Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Type 1 financial instruments business operator) lists the pair. One registration covers crypto asset exchange services and the other covers financial instruments business, so the same bureau supervises both sides.
How do I deposit and withdraw?+
Fiat deposits run through bank, so a bank transfer is the way in rather than a card. Withdrawals in yen and crypto transfers are free, with a charge applied only to large yen withdrawals. Exchange trading is the main cost.
Which coins can I buy and trade?+
The list covers 17 coins, which is well short of the buy crypto median of 60. Mainstream pairs are the realistic use case, and Bitpanda offers from 650 if breadth matters more to you.
Can I earn on my holdings?+
Staking is available on the platform, one of the entries under custodial and staking. Because the account is custodial, you do not manage the staking yourself, which suits holders who want rewards credited without running a node or validator.
Does GMO Coin offer derivatives?+
Derivatives are offered, which sets it apart from plain spot venues. It operates as a centralised exchange, cex, so positions and collateral sit with the exchange rather than in a wallet you control yourself.
How do I get help when something goes wrong?+
Support runs through help centre only, so you are expected to look answers up yourself rather than reach a person. Plan for self service on deposits, withdrawals and order questions, and check the help centre first.
Who runs GMO Coin and where is it based?+
The company is GMO Coin, Inc. (GMOコイン株式会社), a Japanese entity founded in 2017 and headquartered in Japan. The business is built around a single market, with licences from the Kanto Local Finance Bureau on both sides.
Sources
- coingecko.com/en/exchanges/gmo_japan checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Coins listed, Founded
“id=gmo_japan; coins=17; pairs=17”
- coin.z.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Features, Support channels
“Sales office (spot purchase desk) and exchange; also lending of crypto assets / staking, described as 'assets that grow just by holding them'”
- coin.z.com/jp/corp/about/company checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity, Regulators, Licences
“Address: 1-2-3 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0043 Shibuya Fukuras”
- coin.z.com/jp/corp/guide/deposit-withdrawal checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Exchange type, Fiat deposit methods
“All crypto assets deposited by customers are held offline by us”
- coin.z.com/jp/corp/guide/fees checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Derivatives, Maker fee, Taker fee, Withdrawal fee
“Exchange (leverage): BTC/JPY, ETH/JPY, BCH/JPY, LTC/JPY, XRP/JPY free; other pairs Maker: free, Taker: 0.03%; crypto asset FX listed”
Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Related by the facts
GMO Coin
Japanese residents wanting a low cost regulated spot exchange with staking.