Japan's Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama made waves last week by declaring 2026 as Japan's first year of digital.
Japan’s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama made waves last week by declaring 2026 as Japan’s first year of digital. This sets the stage for a major push to have Japan’s financial system incorporate cryptocurrencies and blockchain assets. At the Tokyo Stock Exchange opening ceremony, Katayama said that Japan’s stock and commodity markets will be at the heart of ensuring that Japanese citizens benefit from digital financial products.
To make her point, Katayama referenced international developments, particularly noting that in the US, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are increasingly seen as inflation-hedging tools. Speaking at the ceremony, she added, “Commodity and stock exchanges play a pretty big role in making sure the public can enjoy the benefits of digital assets – it’s a key part of our plan to push the boundaries of what tech can do in the finance sector.”
Regulatory Frameworks for Cryptocurrencies
The Japan Financial Services Agency began drafting a new regulatory framework for crypto back in October 2025. The goal is to treat digital assets the same as conventional securities. This means that the rules they come up with will include:
Making it illegal to trade on insider information of digital assets
Supervising over 100 registered digital assets, which includes Ethereum
Setting guidelines for banks to offer management and sales of digital assets
Japan is going all in on crypto
The country plans to cut crypto capital gains from 55% to 20% in 2026
Japan's finance minister is promoting crypto integrations into the national finance system.
The aim is for these rules to come into effect in 2026 – and once they’re in place, we expect to see more clarity for investors and financial institutions, making it more likely that we’ll see digital assets listed on ETFS. This move shows that Japan is taking a cautious yet progressive approach, aiming to align with global developments.
Crypto Tax Reforms Become Law
For investors, one of the key changes is a major overhaul of crypto taxation. From 2026, Japan will bring the capital gains tax on digital assets down from as high as 55% all the way down to a flat rate of 20% – and only applies to assets traded on regulated markets – while also exempting any assets that aren’t on the register.
Other notable developments to watch include:
The approval of the first Yen-pegged stablecoin (JYPc)
An assessment of how good banks are at managing both traditional and digital assets
Ongoing monitoring of how crypto transactions are being classified and tracked
These moves are a strong signal from Japan that it wants to make its mark on the global crypto scene by creating a safe and welcoming environment for investors while also encouraging the growth of blockchain-based financial solutions.
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