Japan's Finance Minister: Designating 2026 as the "Digital Year Zero," with hopes for widespread adoption of digital assets through stock exchanges.

[Japan's Finance Minister: 2026 to be Designated as the "Digital Year Zero," Expects Popularization of Digital Assets Through Stock Exchanges] According to CoinPost, on January 5th, Japan's Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, speaking at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Stock Exchange on the first trading day of the new year, designated 2026 as the "Digital Year Zero." Katayama stated that the public's enjoyment of the benefits of digital and blockchain assets requires the important role of commodities and stock exchanges, expressing her expectation for the popularization of cryptocurrencies and digital assets through exchange infrastructure. She pointed out that in the United States, crypto assets have become a means for the public to combat inflation through ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds), hinting that Japan may take similar measures. Katayama also stated that, as Minister of Financial Services, she will fully support the efforts of exchanges to build a trading environment utilizing cutting-edge financial technology and expects the stock market to reach new highs this year.