Japan’s financial group pushes for Bitcoin and Ether for crypto ETFs

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Bitcoins Institutions backing the ETFs include Mitsubishi UFJ Trust along with crypto exchanges such as bitFlyer and Bitbank.

A coalition of Japanese companies has proposed that discussions regarding the establishment of crypto ETFs should focus on major tokens such as Bitcoin and Ether. 

This initiative comes as Japan considers whether to align its regulations with international moves to permit these financial instruments.

The group includes prominent institutions such as Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corp, brokerages like Nomura and Daiwa Securities, and crypto exchanges such as bitFlyer—the largest crypto exchange in Japan—and Bitbank. 

They emphasized Bitcoin and Ether’s large market capitalizations and stable track records, which make these digital assets suitable for investors seeking to build assets over the medium to long term.

Their proposals were published on Friday and also called for a review of the taxation framework on crypto assets, particularly advocating for the separation of taxes on income earned from digital currencies.

The debut of crypto ETFs in the US earlier this year marked a significant moment for the digital asset industry, which had long struggled with regulatory hurdles regarding the launch of funds backed by Bitcoin and Ether. 

The adoption of Bitcoin and digital assets in Japan is steadily gaining momentum. Metaplanet, the Tokyo-based firm, has embraced Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset to hedge against Japan’s debt burden and the resulting volatility in the yen.

The company currently holds 855 Bitcoin, valued at approximately $56 million. Furthermore, Metaplanet has announced its application of MicroStrategy’s BTC Yield strategy to evaluate how its Bitcoin acquisitions impact shareholder value.