Japan passes law recognizing crypto as financial products

Japan has enacted sweeping amendments to its financial laws that classify cryptocurrencies as financial products, opening the door to lower crypto taxes, domestic exchange-traded funds and stricter market oversight.

Summary

• Japan has passed a law classifying cryptocurrencies as financial products under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act.
• The legislation creates a path for a 20% crypto tax rate, domestic crypto ETFs and stricter insider trading rules.
• Penalties for unregistered crypto businesses will increase, with implementation set to begin after the law is promulgated.

According to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, the House of Councillors approved the amendments to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act on Wednesday, completing the bill’s passage through both chambers of the Diet.

The legislation creates a separate legal category for crypto assets alongside traditional financial products such as stocks and bonds. Until now, cryptocurrencies had been regulated under the Payment Services Act as a payment method rather than as investment products.

Among the changes, the amended law introduces insider trading restrictions for crypto transactions, requires annual disclosures from issuers of certain crypto assets, and increases penalties for unregistered businesses.

CoinPost reported that the maximum prison sentence for operating without registration will increase from three years to 10 years, while the maximum fine will rise from 3 million yen to 10 million yen, or about $18,500 to $61,600.

Tax changes and ETF framework move forward

Beyond market conduct rules, the amendments establish the legal basis for separate taxation of crypto gains at an effective rate of about 20%, together with a three-year loss carry-forward deduction. Japan currently treats crypto profits as miscellaneous income, with tax rates reaching as high as 55%.

According to CoinPost, those tax provisions are expected to take effect in January 2028 because enforcement is scheduled to begin during the 2027 fiscal year.

The legislation also creates the foundation for issuing domestic spot cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds. CoinPost said the Japan Exchange Group is considering the first local crypto ETF listings as early as 2027, with traditional financial institutions expected to serve as issuers. The report added that approval of spot bitcoin ETFs has not yet been confirmed.

Following promulgation, the law is expected to take effect within one year, while cabinet ordinances and supervisory guidelines will determine how the new rules are implemented.

Crypto reforms accompany Japan’s Web3 strategy

The legislation follows a series of government efforts to strengthen Japan’s digital asset sector alongside its startup agenda.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told attendees at WebX 2026 that Web3 forms part of Japan’s national innovation strategy rather than a standalone crypto initiative. As previously reported by crypto.news, she said the conference gives founders, investors and companies opportunities to build new business partnerships, although her address did not announce new funding or immediate regulatory measures.

The government’s Comprehensive Startup Support Package, introduced in 2025, seeks to expand startup financing through public and private institutions, while Japan’s five-year startup plan targets annual startup investment of about 10 trillion yen by fiscal 2027. Alongside those initiatives, lawmakers have continued advancing crypto reforms designed to bring digital assets closer to traditional financial markets through tax changes and an ETF framework.