Japan is the perfect example of what crypto friendliness should look like. At this point it's mainly Japan making it to the headlines, and rightfully so, but we shouldn't discard the fact that the African continent is slowly but surely gaining traction, in crypto terms. I am fairly sure that if more countries and continents start following Japan, the overall growth will more evenly spread out, which is what I find to be very important. I don't really like to see one country pop up far above the rest, because in good times there isn't much to worry about, but when things don't play out in our favor, that country can take the entire market down with it. China is the perfect example of that. It's insane that we experienced so much problems just because of them, and that every time the price was about to break through significantly. Growth needs to get properly distributed accross the world, that's the aim.
Agreed! You can argue about it as much as you want, but regulation was always going to happen in Japan. Mt Gox left deep scars that caused a lot of embarrassment and concern for the Japanese government - and Japanese people involved with Bitcoin. If you understood their business and social culture then, everything that has happened since is a deliberate attempt to make amends for allowing that to happen on their soil.
And as a country, they've really gotten their act together and showed us a blueprint for adoption amidst regulation. Western Europe will be the next to follow, and they will want to tread carefully. China has shown how a draconian approach only creates panic, even if the intentions are probably not as sinister as many think.
I wouldn't discount South America or Southeast Asia as the next regions to step up and take their space in the crypto spotlight!