Japan’s leading brokerages, including SBI and Rakuten, are advancing plans to launch investment trusts focused on Bitcoin and Ethereum, signaling a significant shift in the country’s digital asset landscape. Moving beyond crypto-native exchanges, these traditional financial firms aim to bring cryptocurrencies closer to mainstream portfolios under evolving regulatory frameworks.
Alongside SBI and Rakuten, other financial giants such as Nomura, Daiwa, and firms linked to Mizuho continue exploring similar crypto investment products. Their efforts follow regulatory reforms approved in April 2026 that brought major cryptocurrencies under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, imposing stricter disclosure and insider trading rules to align digital assets with traditional financial standards.
This regulatory tightening has enhanced institutional confidence. A recent survey by Nomura revealed that nearly 80% of professional investors intend to allocate crypto assets between 2% and 5% of their portfolios, a clear sign that cryptocurrencies are increasingly viewed as standard investment components. At the same time, changes to crypto tax rates, lowering them from as high as 55% to a more manageable flat 20%, have also improved retail investor sentiment.
Despite these positive developments, the broader rollout of crypto-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs) faces a cautious and gradual pace, which may temper wider retail adoption in the short term. Japan’s crypto market is transitioning from its traditional speculative, leveraged trading roots toward a more portfolio-oriented approach backed by stronger regulation and institutional frameworks.
Market forecasts support this evolving dynamic. Japan’s cryptocurrency market, currently valued around $368 million, is projected to exceed $1 billion in the next decade. The introduction of investment trusts by SBI and Rakuten caters to investors seeking diversified, long-term exposure rather than short-term speculative gains. This recalibration points to a maturing market where cryptocurrencies fit into conventional asset allocation strategies.