Bitcoin prices jump as Japan makes the cryptocurrency legal – City A.M.

Bitcoin prices have surged following Japans decision to allow the cryptocurrency as a legal method of payment, marking a major step in its adoption.

The price of a bitcoin rose above $1,140 (909) according to Coindesks price index. Just over a week ago one bitcoin was trading below $1,000.

Japan's new law will mean bitcoin exchanges have to comply with anti-money-laundering and know-your-customer regulations. The cryptocurrency was drawn to Japanese regulators' attention by the spectacular collapse of the Tokyo-based Mt Gox exchange in February 2014.

Read more: Three predictions for the future of bitcoin

The push to institutionalise bitcoin had been dealt a blow by the failure of a new exchange-traded fund (ETF) tracking the currency to gain regulatory approval from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The SEC had been concerned by the lack of regulatory oversight in the bitcoin spot exchange market, which would allow market manipulation and fraud.

Yet the move by Japan recognises bitcoin as a valid part of the financial infrastructure, setting an example which other governments will watch closely.

Pavel Matveev, co-founder at bitcoin platform Wirex, said: Japan has fired a starting pistol in terms of cryptocurrency adoption.

Japans recognition of consumers appetite for cryptocurrency payments is an important development and provides other governments with food for thought if they wish to compete in an increasingly globalised and digital world."

Read more: Bitcoin slumps as fears of a "hard fork" deepen

Bitcoins adoption has slowly moved from the more arcane, even anarchic, corners of the libertarian internet towards being increasingly accepted in the mainstream.

However, the cryptocurrency still faces barriers to institutional take-up, with massive volatility in prices and scepticism from regulators stemming from bitcoins central role behind online black market payments.

Read more: Winklevoss bitcoin fund rejected by SEC over fraud concerns

There are also concerns within the developer community around bitcoins architecture. It is based on distributed ledger technology which means every user has an identical record of payments, stored in the blockchain.

However, the rapid expansion in bitcoin activity has led to debates about increasing the size of the blocks. Some in the bitcoin community fear a hard fork in which two competing versions of the crytocurrency exist, fragmenting a market with little central control.

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Bitcoin prices jump as Japan makes the cryptocurrency legal - City A.M.