Japan’s crypto industry is reawakening.
From new ETF concepts to leveraged trading products, major exchanges are moving fast as policymakers debate tax cuts and looser leverage limits that could reshape the market as early as 2026–2027.
🇯🇵 From Caution to Momentum
After years of skepticism following the Mt. Gox and Coincheck hacks, Japan’s crypto assets have surged past ¥5 trillion ($33B) — up 25% in a single month.
The shift reflects growing investor appetite for risk as inflation outpaces wage growth and crypto reclaims legitimacy under a more crypto-friendly Trump administration, which has nudged regulators toward a pro-innovation stance.
“There are three times more securities accounts than crypto accounts — that’s the opportunity,”
said Satoshi Hasuo, Executive Officer, Coincheck.
⚙️ What’s Changing
- Tax reform: gains may soon be treated like securities
- Leverage: current 2x cap could rise to 5–10x
- Institutional access: banks may be allowed to launch crypto trading arms
- New products: ETFs, lending services, and retail-focused trading platforms
SBI VC Trade plans to expand leveraged trading and USDC lending, while Coincheck partners with Mercari to reach 3.4M new users — now a quarter of Japan’s total crypto accounts.
🌏 Why It Matters
Japan is quietly positioning itself as Asia’s next major crypto hub, just as China’s markets slow and Western regulation matures.
The shift mirrors Japan’s 2012 FX liberalization — which triggered a 10x growth in trading volume over the next decade.
“This could hugely expand the market,”
said Noriyuki Hirosue, CEO, Bitbank.
🔹 The Takeaway
Japan’s crypto revival isn’t hype — it’s policy-driven evolution.
As regulatory clarity converges with investor demand, the country could once again set the global standard for safe, scalable, and institutional-grade digital finance.