Japan’s largest online marketplace, Mercari, has integrated Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Dogecoin (DOGE) into its platform, allowing millions of users to purchase the meme coins using proceeds from second-hand sales. The listing, facilitated by Coincheck‘s Crypto as a Service, reaches over 4 million accounts, many held by first-time traders. Recent regulatory changes in Japan, including SHIB’s addition to a regulatory “Green List,” helped enable the expansion.
The integration allows users to buy SHIB and DOGE with money earned from selling items on Mercari or by using loyalty points. This service is powered by Coincheck through its Crypto as a Service infrastructure.
The launch reaches a ready-made audience of more than 4 million crypto service accounts. Notably, around 85% of those accounts belong to people with no previous trading experience.
For many users, SHIB’s appeal lies in its affordability, with purchases starting from just $0.0063. Shiba Inu maintains a market capitalization of roughly $2.73 billion, providing scale for the platform.
The latest Shiba Inu listing encourages a unique style of participation among Japanese consumers. Many users buy small amounts of SHIB as a digital collectible rather than for active trading.
This approach makes cryptocurrency feel more approachable for first-time users. Many participants simply enjoy watching their holdings grow over time.
The success of the Shiba Inu listing followed recent regulatory developments. Japan’s crypto industry body added SHIB to its Green List, placing it alongside established assets like Bitcoin.
This designation streamlined approval requirements and enabled faster integration. Tax reforms also played a role, reducing the rate on profits from Green List assets to a flat 20%.
Mercari‘s move is part of a broader trend in Japan’s digital commerce. Earlier, Rakuten expanded support for SHIB through its wallet services.
