<p>Japanese messaging giant LINE has just received a license to operate the cryptocurrency exchange business in the country.</p> <p>Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) <a href="https://www.fsa.go.jp/menkyo/menkyoj/kasoutuka.pdf">granted</a> the license to LINE’s blockchain unit LVC Corporation on Friday. The approval will allow the firm to offer cryptocurrency trading services to its <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/560545/number-of-monthly-active-line-app-users-japan/">over 80 million</a> users.</p> <p>Back in June, there were reports that LINE is <a href="https://www.theblockcrypto.com/tiny/messaging-giant-line-close-to-securing-japanese-regulators-approval-to-launch-crypto-exchange-report/">close to</a> getting the license for its platform called BitMax in Japan. This is now LINE's second cryptocurrency exchange, having launched Bitbox in Singapore in July 2018.</p> <p>The Japanese platform BitMax has been approved to offer trading in five cryptocurrencies - bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH), bitcoin cash (BCH), litecoin (LTC) and XRP, according to the FSA’s announcement.</p> <p>LINE's unit becomes one of <a href="https://www.fsa.go.jp/menkyo/menkyoj/kasoutuka.pdf">twenty</a> licensed cryptocurrency exchanges in Japan, which include recently approved <a href="https://www.theblockcrypto.com/tiny/e-commerce-giant-rakuten-publicly-launches-crypto-exchange-currently-supports-btc-eth-and-bch/">Rakuten Wallet, </a>as well as older players such as Coincheck and SBI VC Trade, among others.</p>