Japan plans to classify XRP as a financial product under FIEA by Q2 2026, shifting it from crypto asset status pending FSA approval.
Japan is preparing to reclassify XRP as a regulated financial product by the second quarter of 2026.
The move would shift XRP from the Payment Services Act to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. The change is expected to reshape how XRP is supervised and traded in the country.
Regulatory Shift Under FIEA Framework
Japan’s Financial Services Agency plans to reclassify XRP under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act by Q2 2026.
The asset is currently regulated under the Payment Services Act as a crypto asset. The change would place XRP in the same category as traditional financial products.
The FSA opened a public consultation process, which will close on February 27, 2026.
After the consultation, the agency will finalize the policy framework and implement it in the second quarter of the year.
Under the new framework, XRP would be subject to stricter disclosure and compliance requirements.
The FIEA includes rules on insider trading and market conduct. Companies handling XRP would need to follow standards similar to those applied to securities firms.
Alignment With Japan’s Financial Sector
The planned reclassification aligns XRP with its growing use in Japan’s financial industry.
Several Japanese firms, including SBI Holdings, have integrated XRP into payment and settlement services.
The regulatory change would reflect that usage within a formal financial structure.
By moving XRP under the FIEA, regulators aim to provide clearer oversight for institutional participation.
Financial institutions often require defined regulatory status before offering related services. The new classification may allow broader integration into banking and investment products.
The shift could also create a pathway for structured financial products tied to XRP.
Market participants have discussed the possibility of exchange-traded funds and other investment vehicles.
Such products would fall under existing financial market supervision rules.
Related Reading: XRP Transactions Happen in Japan’s Banks-Details Hidden by NDAs
Investor Protections and Tax Discussions
The FIEA framework requires enhanced disclosure standards. Issuers and related entities must provide information on volatility and technical risks.
The rules also prohibit insider trading and market manipulation in regulated financial products.
Regulators have indicated that investor protections will be central to the updated framework.
The new status would require compliance measures similar to those applied to equities and bonds. This may increase transparency for both retail and institutional investors.
Tax treatment of crypto assets is also under discussion in Japan.
Lawmakers are considering moving from progressive tax rates to a flat 20 percent rate for regulated products. Any tax revision would require separate legislative approval.
Japan’s move to classify XRP as a financial product by Q2 2026 marks a regulatory transition that aligns the token with established financial market rules.
The final outcome will depend on the consultation process and formal adoption by the Financial Services Agency.
Source: https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/japan-to-classify-xrp-as-financial-product-by-q2/
