Major groups of Japanese traders are gearing up for crypto investment trust products as regulators work to allow the currency to hold digital assets by 2028.
Summary
- SBI and Rakuten prepare crypto investment trusts for Japanese investors.
- Nomura, Daiwa, SMBC and Mizuho affiliates are learning about crypto fund products as regulations change.
- Japan’s 2028 roadmap could allow investment trusts and ETFs to hold Bitcoin and Ether.
SBI Securities and Rakuten Securities are already developing products within their groups, according to a Nikkei report.
Structured products can give retail investors exposure to crypto through traditional securities accounts. Today, many Japanese users still need exchange accounts or wallets to buy crypto directly. Investment prospects can reduce that barrier and place exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum within a standard fund structure.
SBI and Rakuten develop in-house products
SBI Securities plans to sell products developed by SBI Global Asset Management. Funds are expected to focus on highly liquid assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, with both exchange-traded funds and investment trusts being reviewed.
Rakuten Securities also prepares crypto investment trust products through Rakuten Investment Management and other group companies. The company wants users to trade products directly through smartphone apps, according to the report.
In addition, Nomura and Daiwa also announced plans to develop crypto investment trusts once the regulatory framework is clear. SMBC Group, including SMBC Nikko, has established a team to research potential products, while Asset Management One under Mizuho Financial Group has begun early research.
A survey cited by Market Reviews said 11 out of 18 major Japanese firms could offer crypto investment trust products after approval. That shows broad interest from traditional funds, even before the rules are finalized.
Japan’s crypto fund road development
Japan’s Financial Services Agency is expected to revise regulations under the Investment Trust Act in 2028. The change will add crypto assets to the list of assets that can be managed by an investment trust.
Crypto.news reported that Japan recently reclassified crypto as a financial instrument under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. The change adds stricter market rules, including annual disclosure requirements and insider trading limits.
The same policy change supports Japan’s plan to legalize spot crypto ETFs by 2028. Crypto.news previously reported that Nomura Holdings and SBI Holdings are expected to be among the first major firms to develop crypto-linked ETF products.
SBI’s extensive crypto work is also underway. Market updates from crypto.news said that the group has followed negotiations under Bitbank and launched a Visa card offering rewards for Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP. Those steps show how Japanese brokerage groups are building crypto market access across currencies, exchanges and payment products.
