Purchase Celsius (CEL) with Japanese yen (JPY) easily at Switchere and benefit from fast, secure transactions.
Celsius Network, with its native CEL token, emerged as a major centralized finance (CeFi) platform designed to bridge the gap between traditional banking and the world of digital assets. Its primary function was to offer users the ability to earn yield on their cryptocurrency holdings and to take out crypto-collateralized loans. The platform operated on a custodial basis, managing user funds to generate interest income through lending activities to institutional borrowers. This model positioned it as a user-friendly alternative for crypto holders seeking to put their assets to work without navigating complex DeFi protocols.
The CEL token was the core of its loyalty and rewards system. As a utility token, holding and using CEL provided tangible benefits within the Celsius ecosystem, such as preferential interest rates for both earning and borrowing. Users could receive higher yields on their deposited assets and lower rates on loans, with rewards often distributed weekly in the form of CEL. This tokenomics structure was designed to incentivize user loyalty and drive demand for the native asset. However, the platform faced significant operational challenges and market pressures, which ultimately led to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, profoundly impacting its users and reshaping the narrative around risk in the CeFi lending industry.
The JPY/CEL pair represents the exchange rate between the Japanese Yen and the Celsius Network's native CEL token. Historically, CEL was a utility token for a crypto lending platform. However, due to the Celsius Network's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, the CEL token has been delisted from most major cryptocurrency exchanges, including those regulated in Japan. Consequently, finding a direct fiat on-ramp from JPY to CEL with any significant liquidity is now virtually impossible, and any trading is extremely high-risk and speculative.
Previously, to buy CEL with JPY, a user would need to find a global cryptocurrency exchange that listed the CEL token and also accepted JPY deposits. The process typically involved completing KYC/AML compliance, funding the exchange account with JPY via a bank transfer, and then placing an order on the JPY/CEL order book or swapping another digital asset for CEL. However, due to strict regulations by Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA), many such tokens were not available on local Japanese exchanges, requiring users to use international platforms.
Yes, Japan has one of the most stringent regulatory frameworks for digital assets, overseen by the Financial Services Agency (FSA). Any fiat on-ramp service operating in Japan must be a licensed Virtual Asset Exchange Service Provider. These providers are mandated to perform rigorous Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks, including identity verification and monitoring of blockchain transactions. This strict compliance environment is a key reason why high-risk or delisted assets like CEL are not traded on regulated Japanese platforms.
The CEL token's primary utility was designed around a loyalty program. By holding CEL tokens in their digital wallet on the platform, users could access preferential rates. This included earning a higher yield on their deposited digital assets, paying lower interest on crypto-backed loans, and making free peer-to-peer transfers using a feature called CelPay. The more CEL a user held relative to their other assets, the higher their loyalty tier and the better their benefits.
The foremost risk is the ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Celsius Network. The CEL token's value is highly speculative and tied to the uncertain outcome of these legal proceedings and creditor claims. There is a significant risk that the token could become worthless. Furthermore, liquidity is extremely low as it has been delisted from major exchanges, making it difficult to sell. Any remaining trading venues are likely unregulated, exposing traders to higher counterparty risk and price manipulation.
In the Celsius Network Chapter 11 proceedings, CEL token holders are generally treated as unsecured creditors. Their claims are based on the value of their holdings at the time of the bankruptcy filing. The recovery amount for CEL holders, if any, will depend on the final approved restructuring or liquidation plan. It's crucial for holders to follow official communications from the bankruptcy court and the appointed creditor committees to understand their rights and the process for filing a claim for their digital assets.