Key Highlights
- Japan’s Finance Minister is pushing to bring digital assets into mainstream finance through stock and commodity exchanges.
- Katayama cited U.S. crypto ETFs as a model, suggesting Japan could adopt similar tools in the future.
- She named 2026 the “first year of digitalization,” pledging government support for fintech-driven trading systems.
Japan’s Finance Minister, Satsuki Katayama, is signaling a major push to bring digital assets into the mainstream financial system.
Speaking at the Tokyo Stock Exchange during the New Year’s opening ceremony, she called stock and commodity exchanges “key” to making cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based assets more accessible to the general public.
Katayama drew attention to the U.S. market, where crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have become a popular tool for investors looking to hedge against inflation. She suggested that Japan could follow a similar path, though the country currently does not offer domestic crypto ETFs for local investors.
Terming the year 2026 the “first year of digitalization,” she said the government would support exchanges to achieve the vision of developing a modern trading environment through the use of fintech and technology.
She said this also forms part of the solution to address long-term economic challenges faced by the country, including deflation and economic growth through the use of fiscal policies.
Stablecoins and banks lead early adoption
Japan has already laid the groundwork for this transition. In October 2025, Tokyo-based JPC Inc. launched JPYC, Japan’s first yen-backed stablecoin.
Pegged 1:1 to the yen, JPYC enables instant issuance, redemption, and transfers on the Ethereum, Polygon, and Avalanche networks. Fully backed by yen deposits and government bonds, the stablecoin is already being adopted by companies for payments and accounting purposes.
During the same period, Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) proposed allowing local banks to trade and hold cryptocurrencies in the same way they handle stocks and government bonds.
Meanwhile, Japan’s top banks, Mitsubishi UFJ, Sumitomo Mitsui, and Mizuho, are piloting yen-backed stablecoins under the FSA’s Payment Innovation Project (PIP) to explore faster and cheaper payments, with dollar-backed coins possibly coming later. Mitsubishi Corporation will be the first corporate user, and the FSA will oversee compliance and security.
New crypto regulations and taxes
In the area of regulation, the Japanese government will reclassify 105 significant cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ether, as financial products that can more easily fit into the traditional financial system.
Under the new tax framework, crypto taxes will be reduced from 55% to 20%. Spot trading, derivatives, and ETFs will receive specific tax treatment, and investors will be allowed to offset losses for up to three years. Income from staking, lending, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) will continue to fall under general taxation.
Katayama emphasized that the above measures also form part of a broader vision to transform the economy of Japan from a savings-based economy to an investment-led economy with digital assets playing a central role in the financial future of Japan.
Also Read: Japan FY2026 Tax Reform: Crypto Reclassified as Financial Product
