SBI, Rakuten eye Bitcoin and Ethereum trusts – What it means for Japan
As Japans major brokerages gradually expand toward digital assets, crypto increasingly continues to move deeper into mainstream financial infrastructure. Earlier adoption had already remained concentrated around crypto-native exchanges rather than traditional brokerage investment products. That structure now appears to be shifting since SBI and Rakuten accelerated preparations for Bitcoin [BTC] and Ethereum [ETH] focused investment trusts. Nomura, Daiwa, and several Mizuho-linked firms also continue studying similar offerings beneath evolving Financial Services Agency regulatory frameworks. Source: X Institutional conviction, meanwhile, strengthened after Nomuras 2026 survey showed nearly 80% of professional investors planning crypto allocations between 2% and 5%. That momentum increasingly signals crypto maturing into a standardized portfolio asset. However, tighter regulation and slower rollout timelines could still moderate broader retail participation despite rising institutional demand. Japans regulatory reforms deepen crypto market integration As Japan gradually reshapes its crypto regulations, institutional confidence continues to strengthen increasingly across traditional financial markets. Earlier uncertainty had already limited broader participation despite rising demand for regulated digital asset exposure. That environment started shifting after Japan approved reforms moving major cryptocurrencies beneath the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act during April 2026. Stronger disclosure standards and insider trading restrictions increasingly reduced compliance concerns surrounding digital asset participation. Investor protections also strengthened confidence as regulators pushed crypto closer