Oct 08 (News On Japan) - Japan is one of the most crypto-friendly countries in the world, a global hub for digital assets and their trading, as well as a place where investors feel confident to commence and complete ventures.
In the past, the country was somewhat stricter in this regard, particularly when it came to taxes, as cryptocurrencies operated in a somewhat gray area. However, regulatory frameworks have continued to develop over the years, as more and more countries see the benefits digital assets could bring, or at least understand that they are here to stay and that the system should learn how to work with them instead of against them.
As a result, Japan has also become more open to the integration of digital assets and the development of Web3 industries, with plans for further market development underway. Even clearer regulations and more protections are needed for investors if crypto coins are to enter traditional marketplaces and remain successful. However, as the assets remain volatile and their movements are still difficult to predict, it is imperative for the traders to check the latest metrics, including volume, engagement rates, and price points (such as checking the XRP to USD figures) before commencing a transaction in order to be sure that they’re making the right call.
The plans traders make should be aligned with the latest marketplace developments, though, as decisions based on objective facts will naturally yield much better results.
Metaplanet purchase
According to Binance.com Head of VIP & Institutional, Catherine Chen, “Bitcoin is maturing into a macro-sensitive asset: increasingly influenced by monetary policy, central bank actions, and global money supply changes, rather than just crypto-native events like halving cycles.” This means that the attitude investors have towards digital assets will change as well, with institutional ones being the most noteworthy example. Since their transactions are significantly more substantial, they are naturally at the forefront of discussions and discourse in the cryptocurrency trading community.
Recently, Japan’s Bitcoin treasury firm Metaplanet announced that it acquired nearly 5,500 coins for approximately $632.5 million, marking the company’s most significant BTC acquisition event to date. This has made Metaplanet the fifth-largest public corporation that holds Bitcoin tokens. According to its CEO, the purchase was made at the average price of $116,724 for every single coin. The company’s total holdings reached 25,555 Bitcoins in the aftermath of this venture, acquired for nearly $3 billion.
A portfolio diversifier
The fact that cryptocurrencies can be used to diversify portfolios and make them more robust is nothing new. In fact, this is one of the main functionalities traders have found for digital assets. Their ability to make holdings lists more adept at withstanding the shifts and changes occurring in the trading environment is very well-recorded, as they are based on decentralized networks operating independently from traditional finance systems. Working with assets that are based in a different environment is naturally very important, and can even be regarded as a more comprehensive diversification.
Kato Katsunobu, Japan’s current Minister of Finance, said cryptocurrencies deserve a place in people’s portfolios and said that the country is committed to building a better trading environment. The fact that cryptocurrencies are considered trustworthy enough to be part of diversified portfolios says a lot about how much the assets have evolved over the years and how trustworthy they’ve become. Kato said that the risk of volatility remains concerning; establishing proper investment environments can be the solution for the traders.
Legislation
Japan’s Financial Services Agency has also said that the government should adopt different taxation for cryptocurrencies, proposing that a flat tax rate ought to be adopted. Japan classifies crypto gains as miscellaneous income in Japan, with tax rates falling anywhere between 15% and 56% depending on the bracket. This project could see cryptocurrencies reclassified as a unique class with separate taxation, similar to stocks. As a result, the gains would be taxed at a flat rate of around 20.315%. The move would make sense not just as a measure of incentivizing the market and getting the investors to become more interested in digital assets, but also because cryptocurrencies have indeed become much more common and visible in the Japanese economy.
More finance giants that are based in Japan are set to adopt and integrate blockchain technology as well. For instance, conglomerate SBI Group joined forces with blockchain oracle Chainlink to design and launch crypto tools that can be used across financial institutions in all of Asia. SBI has also signed partnerships with USD Coin issuer Circle, Ripple, the developer of the XRP token, and Startale, a Web3 company.
Yen stablecoins
JPYC, a yen-based stablecoin, is entirely Ethereum-based and fully convertible to Japan’s national fiat currency. The value is set to remain fixed, at one yen per unit, supported by highly liquid assets like bank deposits and government bonds. Earlier versions of the stablecoin were already in circulation, but they will be increasingly integrated into the new regulatory framework. JPYC will also not be reliant on transaction fees, with the revenue generated from interest earned on the government bonds that underpin the stablecoins.
JPYC has been approved to operate as a money transfer provider, being a licensed and regulated issuer as a result. Its intended use cases are in cross-border remittances, corporate transactions, and DeFi services. The launch of such a product is a considerable development, and researchers have already discussed its potential to disturb the stablecoin market, which has so far been dominated by the dollar.
The bottom line
In conclusion, the Japanese cryptocurrency market continues to grow and evolve. While in the past the authorities were unwilling to even consider working with such an asset, things have changed considerably over the last few years. Now, lawmakers are ready to interact with these assets and consider them part of a robust portfolio. As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, changes will naturally occur as well.
As a general rule, though, it is always important for traders to be mindful of the ways in which the marketplace shifts, regardless of the legislative framework. Having a robust strategy is the surest way to increase your gains over the long term.
