Japan’s finance minister signaled that crypto’s future lies inside regulated exchanges as Japan advances tax, disclosure and market reforms. Japan appears to be moving to bring cryptocurrencies deeper into its traditional market rulebook, signaling that regulators want digital assets handled through established exchanges and securities-style oversight rather than a parallel system. The direction was underscored on Monday by Finance Minister and Financial Services Minister Satsuki Katayama, who publicly backed traditional securities exchanges and market infrastructure as the primary gateway for blockchain-based assets. Speaking at the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s New Year opening ceremony, Katayama framed 2026 as Japan’s first year of full-scale digitalization. Her remarks echoed a broader regulatory shift that has been steadily aligning crypto with traditional capital markets. Read more
Bitcoin headed higher despite the Bank of Japan's interest-rate hike while reactions saw bullish risk-asset signals and no further policy tightening. Bitcoin (BTC) aimed for $88,000 on Friday after Japan’s central bank raised interest rates to 30-year highs. Key points: Bitcoin joins US stocks futures heading higher in a curiously bullish reaction to Japan’s interest-rate hike. Read more
The Bank of Japan is expected to increase its benchmark interest rates on Friday, a historically bearish signal for riskier assets like Bitcoin. Bitcoin (BTC) could face a continued correction toward the $70,000 level if the Bank of Japan (BoJ) proceeds with an expected interest-rate hike on Dec. 19, according to multiple macro-focused analysts. Key takeaways: BoJ tightening could pressure Bitcoin by draining global liquidity. Read more
Japan plans to move crypto regulation from payments law to securities rules, tightening disclosures for IEOs and cracking down on unregistered platforms. Japan’s financial regulators are preparing to move crypto asset oversight out of the country’s payments regime and into a framework designed for investment and securities markets. The Financial Services Agency (FSA) on Wednesday released a comprehensive report from the Financial System Council’s Working Group on the regulatory status of cryptocurrencies across multiple sectors. The document outlines a plan to shift the legal basis for crypto regulation from the Payment Services Act (PSA) to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA), which is the primary law regulating securities markets, issuance, trading and disclosures. Read more
Japan’s FSA is set to mandate liability reserves for crypto exchanges to boost consumer protection. The new rules are set to change the market. Japan is in the process of introducing significant changes to cryptocurrency regulation following renewed attention to Mt. Gox-related repayment activity in 2024. The Financial Services Agency (FSA) plans to introduce new rules requiring cryptocurrency exchanges to maintain special “liability reserves” to protect customers if their assets are lost due to hacks or unauthorized transfers. The measures aim to bring the cryptocurrency sector closer to the strict standards applied to traditional financial institutions in Japan, one of the world’s most heavily regulated markets. Read more
Indian crypto holders now hold 5 tokens on average, Ripple secures regulatory approval in Singapore, and Japan’s crypto tax: Asia Express The average crypto holder on the popular Indian crypto exchange CoinDCX is starting to diversify their portfolio, according to recent survey results. The Indian crypto investor today holds an average of 5 tokens per portfolio, CoinDCX said in an annual report released on Thursday. Its survey indicates the average investor in India has almost doubled the range of crypto tokens they hold, up from around two to three tokens in 2022. CoinDCX said that investors are increasingly exploring the potential of other blockchain networks rather than focusing solely on Bitcoin. Read more
Indian crypto holders now hold 5 tokens on average, Ripple secures regulatory approval in Singapore, and Japan’s crypto tax: Asia Express The average crypto holder on the popular Indian crypto exchange CoinDCX is starting to diversify their portfolio, according to recent survey results. The Indian crypto investor today holds an average of 5 tokens per portfolio, CoinDCX said in an annual report released on Thursday. Its survey indicates the average investor in India has almost doubled the range of crypto tokens they hold, up from around two to three tokens in 2022. CoinDCX said that investors are increasingly exploring the potential of other blockchain networks rather than focusing solely on Bitcoin. Read more
The crypto industry in Japan is poised for a surge in growth among retail investors, observers say, as the government plans to introduce a moderate 20% tax. A new, more moderate tax on digital assets in Japan is projected to make crypto more appealing to retail investors. Lawmakers in the National Diet, Japan’s legislature, reportedly support a proposal from the country’s financial watchdog, the Financial Services Agency (FSA), that would lower taxes on crypto. The rate would decrease from a maximum of 55% to 20%, aligning the taxation regime more closely with traditional assets and securities. Relaxing the tax code reflects a growing trend of the government moderating its stance toward crypto in Japan. From a relative gray zone to strict regulations, to becoming part of a national growth plan, the government has gradually recognized crypto as part of the financial industry. Read more
Bitcoin’s decline to $84,000 was driven by US dollar stablecoin concerns, a weakening global macroeconomic outlook and factors beyond Japan’s bond market stress. Key takeaways: Stablecoin concerns, regulatory pressure, and reduced risk appetite among traders weighed more on Bitcoin than Japan’s bond-market moves. Reduced confidence in global growth and stress on digital asset reserve companies amplified BTC selling and subsequent stop losses. Read more
Japan’s FSA plans to reclassify crypto as financial products, enforce new disclosure and insider trading rules, and cut the crypto tax rate from 55% to a flat 20%. Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) is preparing an overhaul of the country’s crypto regulatory framework, moving to classify digital assets as “financial products” under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. The plan would introduce mandatory disclosures for 105 cryptocurrencies listed on domestic exchanges, including Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH), and bring them under insider trading regulations for the first time, according to a Sunday report from Asahi Shinmun. If enacted, exchanges would be required to disclose detailed information about each of the 105 tokens they list, including whether the asset has an identifiable issuer, the blockchain technology underpinning it and its volatility profile, per the report. Read more
Canaan will supply 4.5 megawatts of water-cooled Bitcoin mining ASICs to a Japanese engineering firm for real-time grid balancing and energy optimization. Mining hardware producer Canaan won a contract to supply 4.5 megawatts (MW) of Bitcoin mining application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for a project designed to help stabilize Japan’s electric grid. According to a Thursday announcement, the company will supply an electrical engineering solutions provider Bitcoin mining ASICs with a capacity of 4.5 MW. The project will deploy Canaan’s new Avalon A1566HA-488T water-cooled mining ASICs for “real-time grid balancing and energy-efficiency optimization,” Canaan said. The mining operation will run continuously and utilize controlled overclocking and underclocking, adjusting power consumption to stabilize the regional grid load. Canaan’s proprietary control systems will dynamically adjust frequency, voltage and hashrate to match power supply and demand. Read more
Bybit’s pause comes as Japan’s FSA considers reforms that could allow banks to hold Bitcoin and operate licensed exchanges. Bybit, the world’s second-largest crypto exchange by trading volume, has announced it will pause new user registrations in Japan starting Oct. 31, as it adapts to new regulations from the country’s Financial Services Agency (FSA). The company said the move is part of its “proactive approach” to align with Japan’s emerging regulatory framework for digital assets, according to a Wednesday announcement. “It has always been Bybit’s commitment to operate responsibly and in compliance with local laws and regulatory expectations,” the exchange said. Read more