Japan backs exchanges as gateway for digital assets, declares 2026 'Digital Year One', shifts crypto oversight to securities law and proposes 20% tax

first published 2026-01-05T10:17:45Z

Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama pledged government support to integrate blockchain-based assets into Japan’s stock and commodity exchanges. Planned 2026 measures include a flat 20% crypto tax, reclassification of 105 cryptocurrencies (including Bitcoin and Ethereum) as financial products, and allowing three-year carryforward of crypto losses. Regulators and firms (SBI, Ripple) are preparing ETF filings and stablecoin activity (JPYC approved; RLUSD planned) as Japan seeks to become a major crypto hub.

AI Analysis

The story lists concrete policy changes (flat 20% crypto tax; reclassification of 105 tokens including Bitcoin and Ethereum as financial products; three-year loss carryforward) and describes regulators/firms preparing ETF filings and stablecoin launches (JPYC approved; RLUSD planned), which create clearer market access and fiscal incentives — bullish for crypto and likely to influence trading flows.

Source Articles