Japan plans to integrate crypto assets into stock exchange infrastructure

Authorities see exchanges as a key channel for mass access to digital assets

Japan plans to bring cryptocurrency into the stock market

05.01.2026 - 10:30

383

3 min

Key points:

The Japanese government is signaling support for integrating crypto assets into the traditional financial system.
Exchange infrastructure is viewed as the primary mechanism for distributing digital assets to the public.

Japan’s finance minister Satsuki Katayama said the country plans to make cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based assets part of the infrastructure of stock and commodity exchanges. The remarks were delivered during the opening bell ceremony at the Tokyo Stock Exchange on the first business day of 2026.

Katayama described 2026 as a “digital year” for Japan’s financial system and emphasized that digital assets should be made accessible to a broad audience through regulated exchange-based mechanisms.

The role of exchanges and global context

According to the minister, stock and commodity exchanges play a central role in providing mass access to digital assets, including cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based instruments. She said exchange infrastructure can ensure transparency, investor protection and trust in new financial products.

As an example, Katayama pointed to the United States, where crypto ETFs have gained widespread adoption and are used as tools to hedge inflation risks. Similar approaches, she said, could be implemented in the Japanese market.

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Katayama also linked the digital transformation agenda to broader economic goals, including efforts to combat long-term deflation and shift Japan from a savings-based model toward an investment-driven economy. Authorities expect the growth of digital assets and fintech to be supported by active fiscal policy and investment-led growth.

In December, Japan approved a new tax framework for digital assets, under which cryptocurrencies are gradually being aligned with traditional financial instruments. A key change in the reform is the removal of taxes on unrealized gains and a move toward a more transparent system for reporting income from token-related transactions.

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