SBI, Rakuten, Nomura to offer crypto trusts to retail investors
SBI and Rakuten are building crypto investment trusts and ETFs for Japanese retail clients; Nomura and other groups plan products once rules are final, with regulatory changes due by 2028.
SBI Group, Rakuten and several major Japanese financial firms are preparing crypto investment trusts and exchange-traded products that retail investors can buy through existing securities accounts. SBI and Rakuten are developing products in-house while other groups are lining up plans pending regulatory changes.
SBI Securities intends to sell funds created by SBI Global Asset Management, offering both investment trusts and ETF-style products focused on liquid tokens such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Rakuten Securities is working with Rakuten Investment Management to build crypto trusts and ETFs that customers can trade directly through smartphone apps.
Nomura and Daiwa have announced internal plans to develop crypto investment trusts. SMBC Group has set up a cross-group task force to evaluate options, and Asset Management One of Mizuho Financial Group has started preliminary exploration of crypto funds.
Regulatory changes in Japan are guiding the timetable. The Financial Services Agency plans to revise the enforcement order of the Investment Trust Act by 2028 to list cryptocurrencies among the specified assets that investment trusts may hold. Lawmakers recently amended the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act to classify crypto assets as financial instruments; that amendment would take effect in fiscal 2027 if the current bill is enacted. Authorities are also considering rules that could permit spot crypto ETFs as early as 2028.
Investment trusts and ETFs would let retail investors gain crypto exposure without opening exchange accounts or managing wallets. The products would be held within standard securities account structures used for mutual funds and pension investments.
SBI has outlined possible products including a Bitcoin–XRP dual ETF and a combined gold-and-crypto ETF, subject to regulatory approval. Brokers expect initial offerings to target well-known, liquid tokens such as Bitcoin and Ethereum to meet custody and liquidity requirements for investment trusts.
Financial groups are preparing custody arrangements, anti-money-laundering controls and operational systems to integrate crypto holdings into conventional investment vehicles. Internal reports and task forces indicate firms are assessing legal, compliance and technical requirements ahead of any product launches.
The timing of product rollouts will depend on final regulatory texts and approvals from financial authorities. Several institutional groups report they are ready to proceed once the rules and approval processes are clarified.
The material on GNcrypto is intended solely for informational use and must not be regarded as financial advice. We make every effort to keep the content accurate and current, but we cannot warrant its precision, completeness, or reliability. GNcrypto does not take responsibility for any mistakes, omissions, or financial losses resulting from reliance on this information. Any actions you take based on this content are done at your own risk. Always conduct independent research and seek guidance from a qualified specialist. For further details, please review our Terms, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers.
Articles by this author
