Japan’s Top Brokerages Prepare Crypto Investment Trusts for Retail Investors

Japan’s largest brokerage firms are moving closer to launching crypto investment trusts as regulators prepare new rules that could officially allow crypto-focused funds by 2028.

SBI Securities and Rakuten Securities are already developing products internally through their asset management divisions. The planned investment trusts are expected to focus on major digital assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum while allowing investors to access crypto through traditional securities accounts instead of separate crypto wallets or exchange platforms.

Rakuten Securities is reportedly building products designed for smartphone trading apps, aiming to make crypto investments easier for retail investors. SBI Holdings is also exploring multiple products, including Bitcoin-XRP combined funds and gold-linked crypto investment products.

Japan Moves Toward Crypto ETFs and Stronger Regulation

Nomura, Daiwa and SMBC Group are also preparing to enter the crypto fund market once regulations become clearer. Several financial groups have already created internal teams to study investment opportunities tied to digital assets.

Japan’s Financial Services Agency is currently working on revisions to investment trust regulations that would formally recognize cryptocurrencies as approved assets for investment funds. The country recently reclassified crypto assets as financial instruments under updated financial laws, placing them under rules similar to stocks and bonds.

Industry analysts believe Japan could also approve spot crypto ETFs by 2028, creating broader access to regulated crypto investments for traditional investors.