Zaif to Discontinue Margin Trading Service

Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Zaif has announced it will officially discontinue its margin trading service effective August 5, 2026. The service, which had already been suspended for an extended period, will not be restarted.

Zaif stated that after evaluating changes in market conditions during the suspension period and assessing the feasibility of future system maintenance and management, the company concluded that resuming the service in a stable and secure manner is no longer viable. The exchange apologized to customers who had been awaiting the service's return.

The margin trading service covered three cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin (BTC), NEM (XEM), and Monacoin (MONA). Zaif confirmed there are no outstanding positions or customer assets under the service, meaning no action is required from users. The discontinuation is thus a formal step following the already ongoing suspension.

Background and Implications

Zaif, operated by Japanese fintech firm kaikaikaika (formerly part of the FISCO group), has been restructuring its offerings in recent years. The suspension of margin trading had been in place prior to this formal discontinuation. The exchange noted that the decision was made after comprehensive consideration of the service's long-term viability.

The company also announced amendments to its Terms of Use and policies regarding planned hard forks and new crypto assets, as part of the service termination. Customers are advised to review the updated documents for detailed changes.

This move aligns with broader trends in the Japanese crypto exchange market, where regulatory scrutiny and operational costs have led several platforms to scale back or discontinue certain products. For Zaif, the focus now remains on its core spot trading services.