Japan”s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama has expressed strong support for the inclusion of crypto trading services within the country”s stock exchanges. During a ceremony in Tokyo on January 5, she declared 2026 as the “digital year,” emphasizing the essential role that regulated venues will play in enhancing crypto adoption.
“For the public to enjoy the benefits of digital assets and blockchain-type assets, the role of securities and commodity exchanges is important,” Katayama stated. Currently, digital asset trading in Japan is largely disconnected from traditional capital markets, a situation that has characterized the country”s regulatory landscape. Digital assets have traditionally been governed under the Payment Services Act, separate from securities law.
However, a shift in regulatory thinking is underway, with authorities contemplating the reclassification of crypto under the securities framework that governs stocks and bonds. This change aims to better align the regulation of crypto with the way these assets are utilized.
Katayama also pointed to international precedents, noting the success of crypto investment products in the United States. She remarked, “In the U.S., through ETF structures, they have spread as a means of hedging against inflation, and similar efforts are expected in Japan,” indicating a readiness to embrace more mainstream crypto investment options.
Her remarks coincide with the ongoing plans by Japan”s Financial Services Agency to revamp crypto regulation and taxation by the 2026 fiscal year. Proposals include shifting crypto gains to a flatter tax structure and aligning certain digital assets more closely with traditional financial products. Industry stakeholders assert that such reforms are crucial to retain crypto activities within Japan.
“As finance minister, I will fully support efforts by exchanges toward developing such cutting-edge fintech and technology-enabled trading environments,” Katayama concluded, signaling a notable shift from cautious regulatory oversight towards a more structured integration of crypto into Japan”s financial ecosystem.
