Japan’s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said she fully supports efforts to bring crypto trading services onto the country’s stock exchanges, calling 2026 the “digital year.” According to Japanese crypto outlet Coinpost, she made the remarks at a ceremony in Tokyo on Jan. 5 marking the first stock market trading session of the year, putting regulated market infrastructure at the center of Japan’s next phase of crypto adoption.
Regulated exchanges were placed at the center of adoption plans
Katayama said securities and commodity exchanges have an important role if the public is to benefit from digital assets and blockchain-type assets. Her comments framed regulated venues as a key channel for expanding access, rather than leaving crypto activity confined to a separate market structure. That is a notable message in Japan, where digital asset trading has long sat apart from traditional capital markets.
Japan is reviewing whether crypto should move into securities rules
That separation has been a core feature of the country’s approach. Crypto assets in Japan have mainly been governed under the Payment Services Act instead of securities law. Regulators are now considering a shift that would place crypto under the securities framework used for stocks and bonds, in an effort to better match how these assets are used and supervised.
U.S. ETF adoption was cited as a reference point
Katayama also pointed to developments overseas, especially in the United States. She said crypto investment products there have spread through ETF structures as a way to hedge against inflation, and that similar moves are expected in Japan. The comment suggests the government is open to broader, more conventional crypto investment vehicles as policy discussions evolve.
Tax and regulatory changes are being prepared for fiscal 2026
Her statement came as Japan’s Financial Services Agency pushes ahead with plans to revise crypto regulation and taxation by fiscal 2026. Proposals include moving crypto gains into a flatter tax framework and aligning some digital assets more closely with traditional financial products. Industry participants have argued for years that such changes are needed to keep crypto activity onshore.
Katayama said that, as finance minister, she will fully support exchange efforts to develop advanced fintech and technology-enabled trading environments. The wording points to a policy shift in Japan: away from keeping crypto at arm’s length, and toward building a structured connection with established financial markets.