Japan plans to designate 2026 as the Year Zero of Digital Assets, emphasizing the Vai of commodity and stock exchanges in promoting the adoption of digital and blockchain assets.
The statement was made at the Tokyo Stock Exchange's opening ceremony on January 5th. The focus is on building the exchange's infrastructure so that the adoption of digital assets brings real benefits to the public, while also referencing the ETF trend in the US.
- 2026 is envisioned as the Year Zero of Digital Assets in Japan.
- Promote the adoption of digital assets through the infrastructure of commodity and stock exchanges.
- Japan is being advised to promote ETFs, similar to those in the US, as a hedge against inflation.
Statement at the Tokyo Stock Exchange: Year Zero of Digital Assets
Japan's Finance and Budget Minister, Saki Katayama, announced that 2026 will be designated as the Year Zero of Digital Assets.
Speaking at the Tokyo Stock Exchange's opening ceremony on January 5th, she emphasized the crucial Vai that commodity and stock exchanges play in promoting the widespread adoption of digital and blockchain assets.
According to her, to ensure that the public truly benefits from digital assets, the adoption process needs to be driven by the exchange's infrastructure, rather than relying solely on spontaneous market demand.
Trading infrastructure and ETF recommendations in the US.
Ms. Katayama pointed out a trend in the US: using ETFs to hedge against inflation, and suggested that Japan should proactively promote similar developments.
The main message is to connect digital assets with the familiar trading mechanisms of the Capital market, thereby expanding accessibility and standardizing the trading environment. She also stated that, in Vai as Minister of Finance, she would fully support exchanges in creating an advanced trading environment for digital assets.
The key points highlighted in the speech focused on: the popularization of digital assets based on exchange infrastructure, the Vai of traditional exchanges in the transition process, and the direction of promoting ETF-style products as a hedge against inflation.
