japan

Market expectations for the Bank of Japan tightening monetary policy are heating up, with weak demand for Japan's two-year government bond auction, the bid-to-cover ratio at 2.97, lower than last time's 3.63 and the past 12 months' average of 3.74. The tail difference is 0.034, higher than last month's 0.007, marking the weakest since 2016. The government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi supports an interest rate hike as early as September, with overnight index swaps indicating a probability of about 84% for a rate hike in September.

SK Hynix CEO Kwak Noh-Jung stated that the company is exploring ways to deepen cooperation with Japanese memory chip customers and suppliers, and is cautiously assessing how to jointly develop the NAND flash memory market. Regarding the company's significant indirect stake in Kioxia, he mentioned that there are currently "no definite plans."After Toshiba's recent divestment, SK Hynix's investment vehicle BCPE Pangea Cayman2 has become Kioxia's largest shareholder, holding a 14.19% stake. SK Hynix holds bonds that can be converted into nearly all voting rights of this investment vehicle; according to a previous agreement, its voting rights cannot exceed 15% before 2028 without Kioxia's consent.In addition, SK Hynix is investing over $4 billion to build its first U.S. HBM packaging facility in Indiana. The cleanroom of the factory is expected to be operational by October 2028, with mass production of the next generation HBM planned for the second half of 2029, and it is expected to employ about 1,000 people once fully operational. The company is also still evaluating the possibility of listing its U.S. NAND subsidiary Solidigm, but no decision has been made yet.

According to the official announcement, Gate's Japanese stock trading service has officially launched on the App side, following its previous launch on the Web side, now achieving coverage on both Web and App platforms. Users can view market data, conduct trades, and manage their positions through either the computer or mobile platform, allowing for flexible switching between different usage scenarios. The first batch covers approximately 300 stocks listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, including popular targets such as Toyota Motor, Sony Group, SoftBank Group, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Nintendo, and Tokyo Electron.With the launch of the mobile service for Japanese stocks, Gate's stock trading service now covers four core markets: US stocks, Hong Kong stocks, Korean stocks, and Japanese stocks. In addition to continuously expanding the global stock market, Gate is also enhancing its product layout around Pre-IPOs, direct IPOs, and gStocks tokenized stocks, and supports fractional trading, stock dividends, and cross-brokerage transfer services. Through a unified stock account and collaboration across Web and App multi-terminals, Gate is further connecting different markets and asset types, continuously improving a one-stop multi-asset trading experience.

Japan Bitcoin Industry Co., Ltd. launched the self-custody Bitcoin payment platform Aurora at the Bitcoin Asia conference held in Hong Kong, aiming to help Japanese businesses sell content such as anime, manga, and games to international fans. The company stated that the overseas Japanese anime content market is expected to reach 21.7 trillion yen in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 26%, but traditional payment systems often keep overseas consumers at bay.Aurora allows international customers to make Bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network while providing Japanese merchants with a simple point of sale (POS) and API layer for managing invoices, payment tracking, and integration. The core design principle of the platform is that JBI does not touch the funds; each merchant operates their own self-custody Lightning Network node, directly receiving Bitcoin from customers, which provides merchants with a clearer regulatory foundation.JBI stated that Aurora draws on the experience of its existing consumer business UseBitcoin.jp, which has allowed customers to purchase digital gift cards including au PAY, V-Preca, and Kyash using the Lightning Network for the past two years. The company invites media, potential merchants, and wallet providers to contact the team at the 2026 Hong Kong Bitcoin Asia conference.

Japanese cryptocurrency exchange service provider Coincheck announced that it has completed the registration for electronic payment methods and other transactions on August 27, 2026, becoming the second company in Japan to obtain a license related to stablecoins.Coincheck stated that it will gradually develop stablecoin and on-chain financial related businesses based on its previous cooperation with the American company Circle to expand the use cases of USDC in Japan. The company claims that stablecoins have price stability linked to fiat currencies, which can be used for around-the-clock, fast, and low-cost transfers and payments.

According to Nikkei Asia, storage chip manufacturer Kioxia Holdings plans to build new production facilities at its factory in northern Japan, with project investments expected to exceed 1 trillion yen (approximately 6.27 billion USD).Kioxia currently ranks third in the global NAND flash memory market, behind Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. The company's move aims to follow its South Korean competitors in increasing production capacity to meet market demand.

According to the Nikkei, Japan's Financial Services Agency, Ministry of Finance, Bank of Japan, and financial institutions plan to establish a research group in the summer of 2026 to promote the construction of next-generation payment and settlement infrastructure based on blockchain (distributed ledger), with a specific preparation plan expected to be formed in early 2027.The plan initially focuses on government bonds and stock trading, aiming to achieve 24-hour instant settlement of funds and securities. The report notes that although there have been several blockchain financial application trials in the past, this is the first time the Japanese government and central bank have set a clear timeline for the actual implementation of related infrastructure.

A Reuters survey shows that most economists believe the Bank of Japan will take action faster than previously expected, and will raise interest rates again in September, with the terminal rate potentially being higher. 57% of economists expect an interest rate hike next month, a significant increase from 5% in July. Ayako Fujita, Chief Economist for Japan at JPMorgan, stated that delaying the rate hike could lead to market turmoil. In addition, more than two-thirds of respondents believe that the recent US-Japan joint foreign exchange intervention has had limited effects.

According to Nikkei Asia, the Japanese government is promoting the creation of a data-sharing platform that leverages artificial intelligence to analyze data shared by manufacturers, aiming to increase the speed of new material development by about 10 times. This plan is led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and aims to accelerate the discovery of new chemical compositions and formulations by aggregating materials-related data from companies using AI.The report states that the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry aims to launch this platform as early as the fiscal year 2027. Currently, the practice of using AI to explore new material combinations is gradually becoming common in the materials industry, and Japan hopes to shorten the traditional trial-and-error cycle and improve industrial R&D efficiency by unifying data and computing infrastructure.

According to the Nikkei, Japan's Financial Services Agency plans to relax regulatory restrictions on trust banks issuing stablecoins, opening up space for individuals to conduct stablecoin transactions exceeding 1 million yen, and intends to include relevant content in the upcoming tax reform proposals.If implemented, stablecoins could further be used in large consumption scenarios such as automobiles and housing, indicating that the application of stablecoins in Japan is expanding from small payments to higher amount settlements.

Japan will issue 10-year and 30-year government bonds on September 1 and 3, respectively, and the market is closely watching their auction performance. Nomura Holdings strategist Andrew Ticehurst stated that if auction demand is weak, it could push up the yields of Japanese and U.S. government bonds, increasing market risk.

According to BBX data, last weekend, global asset management giants, traditional financial groups, and listed treasury departments disclosed the latest official updates on cryptocurrency asset allocation, licensing access, and merger adjustments. The core information is as follows:BlackRock ETF increased its holdings of BTC and ETH by over $1.1 billion in two days: On-chain data tracking shows that the world's largest asset management giant BlackRock's ETF address has continuously accumulated large amounts over the past two days, purchasing a total of 11,098 Bitcoins (worth approximately $852 million) and 132,769 Ethereum (worth approximately $316 million), with the total net purchase amount of these two core cryptocurrency assets exceeding $1.168 billion in a single day.Nomura's Laser Digital Japan approved for cryptocurrency trading license in Japan: Laser Digital Japan, the digital asset subsidiary of Japan's top financial group Nomura Holdings, has officially completed the registration procedures for cryptocurrency trading operators, with registration number Kanto Financial Bureau No. 00032. This is the first new exchange to successfully obtain this registration in Japan since 2022, nearly four years ago. The cryptocurrencies supported for trading on the platform initially include Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Litecoin (LTC), and SHIB, totaling six assets.Adam Back's BSTR terminates business merger agreement with Cantor: BSTR Holdings, the Bitcoin treasury company founded by Adam Back, announced that it has amicably agreed with Cantor Equity Partners I (NASDAQ: $CEPO) to officially terminate the SPAC business merger agreement signed on July 16, 2025. BSTR's official statement pointed out that Bitcoin and publicly listed Bitcoin treasury tools currently face significant market pricing pressure, and macro misalignment has limited the effective implementation of leveraged strategy tools such as convertible bonds and perpetual preferred stocks; however, the company firmly believes that as the market stabilizes, opportunities for Bitcoin treasury allocation and leveraged investments in the public capital market will re-emerge.

Laser Digital Japan, a digital asset company under Nomura Holdings, announced this week that it has completed the registration as a cryptocurrency asset trading service provider under Japan's Payment Services Act, with registration number 00032. It has also joined the Japan Virtual and Crypto Assets Exchange Association, ending nearly four years without new industry participants in Japan.The license covers six types of cryptocurrency assets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and Shiba Inu, all of which are included in the industry's "green list." Initially, Laser Digital Japan will provide liquidity for licensed cryptocurrency companies in Japan, while the launch date for trading services aimed at professional investors has not yet been announced. Japanese regulations require the separation of customer assets from company assets, with at least 95% of customer cryptocurrency assets stored in offline cold wallets, and related measures verified through annual audits. This license does not cover cryptocurrency derivatives, nor does it allow Laser Digital Japan to initiate exchange-traded funds; major adjustments to Japan's cryptocurrency regulatory framework are expected to be implemented in the fiscal year 2027.

SK Hynix (SKHY.O) stated in a document that it has not yet decided whether to build semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Japan. The company responded to media reports regarding its potential factory construction in Japan.SK Hynix stated: "To enhance the competitiveness of the memory chip business, the company is evaluating various options, including the establishment of additional production bases, but no decisions have been made as of now." The company said it would further disclose relevant information when specific details are confirmed, or within one month after the release of this report.

Japan's financial regulatory agency has approved Laser Digital Japan to register as a cryptocurrency asset trading service provider, becoming the first new entrant to obtain this license in Japan in nearly four years, marking the acceleration of institutional-level digital asset services entering the Japanese market. Laser Digital stated that initially, it will provide liquidity services for local virtual asset service providers in Japan, with plans to further launch digital asset trading services aimed at institutional investors in the future, although the specific launch time and scope of services have not yet been announced.Laser Digital is supported by one of Japan's largest investment banks, Nomura Holdings. Co-founder and CEO Jez Mohideen stated that the Japanese digital asset market is entering a new stage of development, and as institutional investor interest increases, the market needs more reliable trading counterparts and infrastructure. Previously, a survey of institutional investors conducted by Nomura and Laser Digital showed that 79% of respondents plan to invest in cryptocurrency assets within the next three years. This regulatory approval comes at a time when Japan is advancing cryptocurrency asset regulatory reforms. Japan has previously reclassified cryptocurrencies as financial assets, establishing a legal basis for the future launch of cryptocurrency asset ETFs and the implementation of an independent tax system, with related new regulations expected to take effect in 2027. Laser Digital's Executive Chairman Steve Ashley stated that global institutional investors are increasingly focusing on the digital asset market and seeking professional infrastructure that meets institutional needs.

On August 21, the Japanese government will allocate an additional 150 billion yen (approximately 944 million USD) to support the chip startup Rapidus, increasing spending in hopes of competing with companies like TSMC. According to a knowledgeable source, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan will seek more funding for this domestic contract chip manufacturer in the fiscal year 2027 budget.This government-supported joint venture was established in 2022, aiming to manufacture cutting-edge 2-nanometer chips by 2027 and help Japan reduce its dependence on TSMC. Policymakers view the success of Rapidus and technological independence in AI, robotics, and quantum computing as crucial to national security.

Gate announces the official launch of its Japanese stock trading service, initially covering about 300 stocks listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), including popular targets such as Toyota Motor, Sony Group, SoftBank Group, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Nintendo, and Tokyo Electron. Users do not need to open a separate traditional Japanese brokerage account or exchange for yen; they can directly participate in Japanese stock trading on the Gate platform using USDT. Currently, Japanese stock trading has been launched on the Gate Web platform, with the App version set to go live soon.In terms of trading functionality, Japanese stocks share the same stock account and related trading capabilities with Gate's US, Hong Kong, and South Korean stocks, supporting features such as market viewing, buying, selling, position management, and transaction record inquiries. Japanese stocks support trading during Japanese time from 09:00 to 11:30 and 12:30 to 15:25, corresponding to UTC+8 time from 08:00 to 10:30 and 11:30 to 14:25.The launch of Japanese stocks further enriches Gate's global multi-asset trading scenario. Currently, the platform supports over 10,000 US stocks and ETFs, more than 1,500 Hong Kong stocks, over 1,000 South Korean stocks, and about 300 Japanese stocks, providing a total of over 12,800 stock and ETF trading options. In the future, Gate will continue to expand into global core markets and quality assets, promoting the integration of traditional finance and digital assets, and providing users with a more diverse one-stop asset allocation choice.

According to a report by Infomax under the Korea Herald, SK Hynix is advancing its plan to build a semiconductor factory in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, with an investment scale of hundreds of trillions of Korean won. SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won recently visited the area personally. Miyagi Prefecture is one of the three major semiconductor industry bases supported by the Japanese government.The report states that this factory will be an overseas production base added by SK Hynix outside of its clusters in Yongin, South Korea, and Hunan, China, aimed at meeting the ongoing tight global supply and demand situation for memory. If the plan materializes, SK Hynix will become the third foreign semiconductor company to establish a factory in Japan, following Micron and TSMC. The report points out that due to ongoing pressure from the United States for South Korean companies to increase investments in the U.S., this investment in Japan may further intensify U.S. pressure, while the Japanese government's subsidy policy is also an important consideration. SK Hynix has not officially responded to this news. Previously, on August 20, SK Hynix announced a 40 trillion won share buyback cancellation plan.

BitcoinTreasuries.NET posted on platform X that the Japanese listed company Remixpoint (3825.T) has increased its holdings by 9.96 bitcoins, bringing its total holdings to 1501.27 bitcoins, ranking 38th in the Bitcoin 100 list.