Japan's path to bitcoin-linked ETF trading pocked with obstacles

Tax policies, financial laws and regulators all stand in the way

20240528 bitcoin etf

The U.S. securities regulator approved the first bitcoin ETFs in January. Among them, an ETF managed by BlackRock has amassed bitcoins worth a total of $16.5 billion. © Reuters

KENSUKE YUASA, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Japan appears hesitant to scale the tax and other hurdles that stand in the way of approving exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track bitcoin prices despite growing expectations in the cryptocurrency industry.

The tension between regulators and the financial sector comes after the U.S. approved the first bitcoin ETFs in January. Among them, an ETF managed by BlackRock has amassed $16.5 billion worth of bitcoins.

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