Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has unveiled a proposal to dramatically reduce the tax rate on cryptocurrency gains, mirroring the current taxation rates for other securities investments.
The draft plan, released Thursday, seeks to lower the current maximum rate of 55% to a flat 20%. The initiative, spearheaded by Akihisa Shiozaki, a member of Japan’s House of Representatives and leader of the LDP’s Web3 working group, aims to reclassify cryptocurrency under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, effectively treating it as a new asset class.
The move would reclassify cryptocurrencies as “financial products,” a distinction that would pave the way for the lower tax rate. “The proposal seeks to develop the market, protect investors and implement separate taxation for crypto gains,” Shiozaki stated in a translated post on X.
The proposed regulatory change also opens the door to the potential introduction of a spot cryptocurrency exchange-traded fund (ETF) in Japan. Similar products in the United States have been wildly successful, to the point that BlackRock is promoting its spot Bitcoin fund in other regions.
Japan Moves to a More Crypto-Friendly Enviroment
The LDP’s proposal follows a recent government decision in December to exempt corporations from paying taxes on unrealized cryptocurrency gains held long-term, signaling a broader shift toward a more accommodating regulatory environment.
The party is now soliciting public feedback on the draft proposal until March 31, after which it will be submitted to the Financial Services Agency (FSA). The FSA, according to Nikkei, has indicated plans to release further regulatory guidelines for the cryptocurrency sector by June.
