Japan Crypto Trust Push: SBI and Rakuten Expand Bitcoin Investment Access

Japan’s largest online brokerages, SBI Securities and Rakuten Securities, are preparing to launch in-house Bitcoin and Ethereum investment trusts, marking a major step in the country’s growing digital asset market. The move could dramatically change how Japanese retail investors access cryptocurrency by offering exposure through traditional brokerage accounts instead of crypto exchanges.

A crypto investment trust is a regulated financial product that holds digital assets such as Bitcoin or Ethereum. Investors can purchase shares of the trust without directly owning the cryptocurrency itself. This structure removes the need for separate crypto exchange accounts or digital wallets, making crypto investing more accessible to mainstream users.

According to Nikkei, SBI Securities plans to distribute products created by SBI Global Asset Management, which aims to gather nearly ¥5 trillion ($32 billion) in assets within three years. SBI intends to oversee the entire process internally, including product development, management, and distribution.

Rakuten Securities is taking a similar approach through Rakuten Investment Management. The company plans to integrate crypto investment products directly into its mobile trading apps, giving retail users a simple way to gain Bitcoin and Ethereum exposure alongside stocks and mutual funds.

Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) is reportedly reviewing regulations that would allow investment trusts and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to hold crypto assets under the Investment Trust Act. Analysts believe spot Bitcoin ETFs in Japan could launch by 2028, potentially creating a market worth more than $6.4 billion.

The shift follows global momentum after the successful launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States in 2024. Japan’s updated regulations, including disclosure requirements and insider trading rules for crypto assets, are also helping digital assets move closer to traditional finance.

For investors, the biggest advantage is convenience and security through trusted financial institutions. However, crypto trusts may also include management fees and limit direct ownership of Bitcoin or Ethereum.