Japan's Crypto Market Anticipates Regulatory Easing Amid Investor Enthusiasm

According to PANews, Japanese cryptocurrency exchanges and financial firms are seizing opportunities to capitalize on growing investor interest in digital assets, driven by expectations of regulatory easing. By the end of July, Japanese investors' crypto assets reached a record 5 trillion yen, marking a 25% increase from the previous month. During the same period, Bitcoin, a major holding, saw a 15% increase in yen valuation. By the end of September, holdings slightly decreased to 4.9 trillion yen. Industry participants are preparing for accelerated growth, with discussions on regulatory changes potentially reducing taxes on crypto gains and relaxing restrictions on lending and asset securitization transactions to attract more retail investors. Coincheck's representative director, Satoshi Hasuo, highlighted the potential in the market, noting that securities accounts are approximately three times more numerous than cryptocurrency accounts, suggesting significant untapped potential. CJ Fong from market maker GSR mentioned increased interactions with Japanese exchanges and financial companies this year, aiming to enhance liquidity for digital assets. Bitbank's CEO believes that the Trump administration has influenced Japan's warming attitude towards cryptocurrencies. Currently, Japan's Financial Services Agency is refining regulatory amendment proposals, which are expected to be discussed in parliament and potentially implemented by 2026 or 2027.