Japan's Finance Minister Backs Crypto Trading in Stock Markets

Japan's top finance official, Satsuki Katayama, has shown strong support for bringing crypto trading into the country's stock exchanges. She sees 2026 as a big year for digital finance. This move could change how Japan handles digital money. Right now, crypto trading in Japan is separate from regular stock markets. This is because crypto has been treated differently under the law. But now, there's talk about changing that. The idea is to make crypto rules more like those for stocks and bonds.Katayama mentioned that in the U. S. , crypto investment products are popular. She hinted that Japan might explore similar options. This could make crypto more mainstream in Japan. The finance ministry is planning big changes to crypto rules and taxes by 2026. They want to make crypto gains taxed more like other investments. Many in the industry think these changes are needed to keep crypto activity in Japan. Katayama also promised to support stock exchanges that want to offer crypto trading. This shows that Japan is moving from being careful to being more open to digital money.