Japan’s Finance Minister Backs Crypto-Stock Integration

• Japan’s finance minister backs bringing crypto into stock and commodity exchanges.
• Katayama named 2026 the “digital year,” showing crypto is central to Japan’s future.
• Stock exchanges would need major system upgrades to support regulated crypto trading

Japan’s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama has publicly supported a big policy change to bring crypto and digital assets into regular financial markets, starting with stock and commodity exchanges. Her comments were delivered during the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s New Year opening ceremony and signify a defining moment in how Japan is handling crypto regulation.

Katayama called 2026 the “digital year” for Japan’s finances, showing that the government sees crypto and digital assets as a central part of the country’s future. She highlighted that licensed exchanges are key to letting the general public use digital assets, likening their importance to how crypto ETFs have made investing easier for people in the US.

Katayama’s support points to a future where assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum could be bought and sold on approved Japanese stock exchanges, right next to traditional stocks and bonds. It would be a big step toward making crypto a normal part of the regulated financial world in the country.

Furthermore, stock exchanges would have to upgrade their technology, risk systems, and oversight to handle large-scale crypto trading, all the while keeping investor protections in place.

Related: Japan to Cut Crypto Taxes to 20% From 55% Under 2026 Reform Plan

Japan’s Multi-stage Plan for Crypto Normalization

Katayama’s comments are made within the context of a series of regulatory changes designed to integrate cryptocurrency into Japan’s mainstream financial system. For instance, last year, the government announced plans to treat 105 top cryptocurrencies as financial assets, putting them under the same rules as stocks and allowing for clearer regulation and new investment products.

Also, starting this year, Japan will tax crypto profits at a flat 20% rate, a big drop from the old system that could go up to 55%. This change treats crypto like other investments, making it a more appealing option.

For a few months now, regulators have been working to officially ban insider trading in crypto by extending stock market rules to digital assets, which would ensure the market is fair and clear as crypto becomes more common.

Japan’s move to let crypto trade on stock exchanges could push other countries in Asia and even Europe to figure out how to fit digital assets into their own regulated markets.