While cryptocurrencies are legal as property, the intention is to give them a more formal classification within the country's laws.
Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) plans to review the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act to grant bitcoin (BTC) and cryptocurrencies legal status as financial products. This move would position the Asian country as one of the pioneers in the formal integration of digital assets into its regulatory system, a step that could resonate in global markets.
The FSA proposes concrete changes to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. Among the measures, crypto assets will be subject to insider trading restrictions, according to Reuters.
This means that buying and selling based on undisclosed internal data will be prohibited. With this regulation, Japan seeks to ensure transparency and fairness.
In addition, the agency will present a bill to parliament in 2026 to formalize these modifications.
The legislative process could mark a milestone in the evolution of digital assets in the country, aligning Japan with international trends that seek to balance innovation and control. The bet on a strategic reserve of bitcoin. Another key aspect of this transformation is the possibility that Japan will have a strategic reserve of bitcoin.
Last December, Senator Satoshi Hamada presented a document to the government requesting this measure, as reported by CriptoNoticias.
Hamada urged authorities to convert part of foreign exchange reserves into virtual currencies like BTC, drawing inspiration from recent steps taken by the United States, one of Japan's main allies.
Hamada's proposal comes in a context of growing global interest in bitcoin reserves. Dozens of companies and some nations are exploring this strategy, including the Japanese Metaplanet, which positions itself as the tenth public company with the most BTC in its treasury.
The precedent of the United States
The U.S. case has garnered special attention in Japan. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that includes bitcoin in national reserves, consolidating the BTC seized by the federal government as part of a long-term economic strategy.
The order also prohibits the sale of cryptocurrencies, reinforcing their role as a strategic investment. This approach has sparked debate in Japan about the potential of bitcoin and cryptocurrencies as geopolitical and economic tools.