Japan gov't pushes digital assets for exchanges

Japan’s finance minister Satsuki Katayama has called for greater integration of digital assets into the country’s stock and commodity exchanges.

Speaking at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, she said exchanges play a crucial role in expanding public access to digital and blockchain-based assets.

She cited the US, where cryptocurrency ETFs are used by investors, and suggested Japan could see similar developments, though none are currently available.

Katayama said 2026 would be a “digital year” and pledged support for exchanges to adopt advanced technology.

Japan has reclassified 105 cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin and ether, as financial products, and is considering cutting the maximum crypto tax rate from 55% to 20%.

Regulators approved the first yen-pegged stablecoin, JPYC, in 2025, and have discussed allowing banks to trade and hold crypto assets.

🔗 Source: The Block

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Implications, context, and why it matters.

Japan’s exchange-led crypto push uses established venues to broaden access and trust

finance minister Satsuki Katayama called for deeper integration of digital assets that use blockchains into Japan’s stock or commodity exchanges. She said exchanges are the path to wider public access, with government backing for advanced tech in 2026’s “digital year”.
Japan reclassified 105 cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin and ether, as financial products. Lawmakers are weighing a cut in the top crypto tax rate from 55% to 20%. These steps could make exchange-listed offerings easier to launch.
No cryptocurrency Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) exist in Japan today. Officials used U.S. ETFs as a guide. Similar funds could follow once domestic rules and infrastructure mature.

What banks, brokers, and service providers should prepare as integration advances

Regulators are considering letting banks trade and hold crypto assets. If approved, banks and brokerages plus trust banks could offer custody (safekeeping) or trading or settlement next to traditional securities. Specialized vendors could find new partnership openings.
Japan approved JPYC in 2025, a yen-pegged stablecoin (a cryptocurrency designed to track the value of a national currency). That move brings building blocks for blockchain payments and settlement. Exchanges can test digital asset products with it.
New ETFs or other exchange-listed crypto products would require compliant custody, market surveillance, and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) controls. Firms also need reliable links to exchange systems. Tax and reporting workflows must be ready. Vendors can plan outreach around pilots and exchange upgrades before the government’s 2026 “digital year”.