Japan’s FSA May Let Banks Hold Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies

Japan’s Financial Solutions Firm (FSA) is apparently preparing to examine guidelines that might permit banks to obtain and hold cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin for financial investment functions.

The relocation would mark a significant policy shift, as existing supervisory standards, modified in 2020, efficiently restriction banks from holding crypto due to volatility threats, according to a Sunday report from Livedoor News.

Per the report, the FSA prepares to talk about the reform at an approaching conference of the Financial Solutions Council, an advisory body to the Prime Minister. The effort intends to line up crypto possession management with standard monetary items like stocks and federal government bonds.

Regulators are anticipated to check out a structure for handling crypto-related threats, such as sharp cost swings that might affect a bank’s monetary health. If authorized, the FSA will likely enforce capital and risk-management requirements before allowing banks to hold digital possessions.

Related: New Japan PM might improve crypto economy, ‘fine-tune’ blockchain guidelines

Japan might let banks run certified crypto exchanges

The FSA is likewise thinking about permitting bank groups to sign up as certified “cryptocurrency exchange operators,” allowing them to provide trading and custody services straight.

Japan’s crypto market continues to proliferate, with more than 12 million crypto accounts signed up since February 2025, about 3.5 times greater than 5 years back, according to FSA information.

At the start of September, the FSA looked for to position crypto policy under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA), moving it from the Payments Solutions Act to reinforce financier defense and line up crypto with securities laws.

The regulator stated that numerous problems within crypto look like those typically dealt with under the FIEA, so it might be suitable to use comparable systems and enforcement.

Related: Japan’s brand-new PM might be an advantage for threat possessions, crypto markets

Japan’s leading banks to release yen-pegged stablecoin

3 of Japan’s biggest banks, consisting of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC) and Mizuho Bank, have actually signed up with forces to release a yen-pegged stablecoin focused on enhancing business settlements and decreasing deal expenses.