The first gaming cryptocurrency enjin coin (ENJ) was approved by the Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association (JVCEA) .
The blockchain gaming platform said its token would be listed on Coincheck on January 26, 2021, allowing Japanese users to purchase it with Yen and trade with bitcoin. ENJ skyrocketed 71% after the news and is now exchanging hands at $0.4385, according to market data.
The JVCEA is a self-regulatory organization recognized by the Japanese Financial Services Agency (FSA). Crypto projects must pass through a ârigorous processâ as Enjin did, the company said. Seihaku Yoshida, Hashportâs CEO, who provided support to Enjin with their Accelerator, provided additional details on the approvalâs process
ENJ was first announced in 2017 and the team launched the platformâs main net the following year in 2018. The Enjin project also leverages non-fungible token (NFT) technology.
Commenting on the announcement, Maxim Blagov, CEO of Enjin, said: âFrom Super Mario to PokĂ©mon and Final Fantasy, Japan is home to pioneering games that hold a lasting place in pop culture. Japanâs culture of innovation is directly aligned with Enjinâs.
We believe some of the worldâs best blockchain games will come from the Japanese gaming industry, and we will be there to help them leverage this powerful technology to the fullest.â
Japan has made significant progress in the last few years to become a hub for crypto companies around the world. The country is known for its gaming industry and the recent announcement shows that the financial regulators are open for innovation within the gaming sector.