Japan Signals Major Crypto Overhaul as Regulators Push for 2026 Reform
Japan’s Financial Services Agency has outlined one of its most ambitious digital-asset reform packages to date, proposing to classify cryptocurrencies as financial products and introduce mandatory disclosures for 105 approved tokens. The plan would also bring crypto under insider trading laws for the first time, require exchanges to publish detailed information on each asset they list, and shift Japan’s crypto tax system to a flat 20% capital gains rate similar to stocks.
The regulator is additionally exploring whether banks should be permitted to hold Bitcoin directly and operate licensed crypto exchanges—moves that would significantly expand institutional participation in the sector. With the proposal expected to reach parliament in 2026, Japan is positioning itself for a major regulatory evolution aimed at transparency, investor protection, and deeper financial-market integration.
