FTX Japan’s Defunct Platform Still Online, Potentially Exposing 35,000 Users
August 3, 2025 — A troubling discovery has surfaced in the ongoing fallout from the collapse of crypto giant FTX. Despite the company’s bankruptcy and shutdown in late 2022, the Japanese arm of the exchange—FTX Japan—still has a portion of its platform publicly accessible online. This lingering digital remnant may be exposing personal data of more than 35,000 former users, raising serious concerns over cybersecurity and user privacy.
Security analysts recently flagged the issue after finding that parts of the FTX Japan website, including backend infrastructure and API endpoints, remained active. While most trading services have been disabled, some user information appears to still be accessible, including usernames, account balances, and transaction histories. Experts warn that if not properly shut down, the platform could become a goldmine for cybercriminals.
Regulatory Oversight in Question
FTX Japan had been under the supervision of Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA), which had frozen customer assets and ordered the platform to suspend operations following the global FTX meltdown. However, the fact that parts of the system remain online suggests possible oversight gaps in how the exchange’s infrastructure was decommissioned.
Privacy advocates argue that FTX and its administrators have failed to fulfill their obligations to protect user data, even in bankruptcy. “Leaving even a fragment of an exchange like FTX online is a ticking time bomb for user privacy,” said Ayumi Tanaka, a cybersecurity expert based in Tokyo. “With thousands of users involved, the potential for identity theft, phishing attacks, or worse is very real.”
What This Means for Users
While there is no immediate confirmation of any large-scale data breach, affected users are being urged to monitor their email accounts and crypto wallets for suspicious activity. Former FTX Japan customers are also advised to reset passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on any connected services.
The issue further highlights the vulnerabilities that can remain even after a company’s public operations cease. FTX’s global collapse was one of the largest financial scandals in crypto history, and this new development underscores how the damage may still be unfolding for its users.
What’s Next?
At the time of reporting, neither FTX’s bankruptcy administrators nor Japanese regulators have issued a public statement regarding the online remnants of the platform. Legal experts suggest that this exposure could lead to further legal liabilities and class-action suits against the failed exchange.
In a space already plagued by volatility and trust issues, the ghost of FTX Japan may serve as yet another cautionary tale for both crypto investors and regulators worldwide.
If you were a user of FTX Japan and are concerned about your data, consider contacting your local consumer protection authority or seek legal advice on possible recourse.
