The Japanese Senate passed a revised version of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, applying a 20% tax rate on crypto assets and lifting the ban on ETFs

According to Japanese media reports, the Japanese Senate officially voted today to pass the revised "Financial Instruments and Exchange Act." This amendment marks the formal inclusion of crypto assets (virtual currencies) into the regulatory scope of financial products, no longer limited to the constraints of the "Funds Settlement Act" as a means of payment.

In terms of regulation and investor protection, the new rules introduce an insider trading regulatory mechanism for the crypto market, while also accepting oversight from monitoring committees such as those for securities trading. Additionally, the law significantly increases the penalties for unlicensed operators, with the maximum sentence raised from 3 years to 10 years in prison, and the maximum fine increased to 10 million yen. This revised legislation is expected to be officially implemented by July 2027.

In terms of taxation and investment channels, the new rules clarify several significant policy changes. Starting from January 2028, the tax rate on profits from crypto asset trading in Japan will be reduced from the current maximum of 55% comprehensive taxation to a unified tax rate of 20%, the same as for stocks (separate declaration taxation). Furthermore, the Japanese market is also expected to officially lift the ban on crypto asset ETFs during the same period, with various securities institutions already beginning preparations for related entry matters.