\n<\/p>\n
The US has called on Japan to step up pressure on the country\u2019s cryptocurrency exchanges and miners, urging them to sever ties with Russia in a bid to further financially isolate the country from the outside world.<\/p>\n
The request from US diplomats was directed to several of Japan\u2019s 31 officially licensed<\/a> crypto exchanges that are still running in Russia, according to people close to the situation. <\/p>\n The diplomats asked Tokyo to focus on halting cryptocurrency mining operations based in the Irkutsk region<\/a> in Siberia, said two people familiar with the matter.<\/p>\n The area is favoured for mining operations because its relatively low temperatures require less cooling and because of the availability of cheap hydroelectric power.<\/p>\n In response, representatives of Japan\u2019s <\/a>Financial Services Agency renewed demands that the Japanese exchanges they oversee cut any surviving relationships, according to people close to three exchanges. <\/p>\n Asked about the request, the FSA and the US embassy in Tokyo declined to comment. The US state department said Washington and its allies were \u201cunited in our determination to hold Russia to account\u201d for the war against Ukraine. \u201cWe will continue to evaluate the impacts of our measures and are prepared to take further measures,\u201d a state department spokesperson said.<\/p>\n Since Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, the administration of prime minister Fumio Kishida has been at pains<\/a> to remain in lockstep with the US and allies on sanctions against Vladimir Putin\u2019s regime and efforts to minimise Japanese business in Russia.<\/p>\n Washington\u2019s decision to supply information on possible Japanese crypto mining operations in Russia was part of an effort to maintain pressure on Putin as the war continues, said people briefed on the matter. <\/p>\n