Japan eyes 2028 for crypto ETFs and financial heavyweights are ready to mobilize
The post Japan eyes 2028 for crypto ETFs and financial heavyweights are ready to mobilize appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.
Japan is laying the groundwork to allow cryptocurrency ETFs by 2028 through a coordinated rollout of securities law and tax reforms. If approved, crypto ETFs would allow Japanese investors to access crypto assets through ordinary securities accounts, improving access to both individual and institutional investors. Currently, crypto ETFs are not available on Japanese securities exchanges or by brokerage firms. Japanese investors looking for crypto exposure would need to open a crypto exchange account and manage private keys through digital wallets. It’s a time-consuming and complex process that has deterred some investors. Crypto ETFs in Japan are poised to launch some four years after the U.S. and Hong Kong. Bitcoin ETFs were introduced in the U.S. in January 2024. The market now manages approximately $130 billion worth of assets. U.S. pension funds, universities such as Harvard, and sovereign-linked funds have begun incorporating bitcoin ETFs into their portfolios. ETFs give crypto the credibility it lacks Director at Convano Consulting, Motoyuki Azuma told Cryptopolitan that the biggest hurdle with crypto has been credibility in the eyes of investors. “The credibility of holding BTC in our business portfolio sometimes faces scrutiny fromcertain Japanese investors,” said Azuma. “ETFs make crypto holdings look more official and more trusted, and easier to explain to investors.” A survey conducted in 2024 by Laser Digital Holdings, a subsidiary of Nomura Holdings, found that 54% of institutional investors said they plan to invest in crypto assets within the next three years. Despite the backdrop of inflation and a weakening Japanese yen, Azuma said short-term crypto strategies have become increasingly challenging. “Market to Bitcoin Net Asset Value (mNAV) strategies are harder than before, but if companies or individuals want to hold crypto assets as a part of a long term alternative asset plan, then crypto ETFS are going to be much…
Filed under: News - @ February 3, 2026 1:28 pm