Ishiba Lukewarm on Japanese Crypto Tax Reform and Bitcoin ETF Approval

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has expressed “caution” about scrapping the country’s controversial crypto tax law. Ishiba has also suggested he will not be rushed into approving Bitcoin spot ETFs.

Regulators, government ministers, and opposition leaders have united in calls to replace the current system with a flat 20% capital gains levy on annual crypto trading profits.

However, the Japanese media outlet CoinPost reported that Ishiba distanced himself from both matters on December 2.

Japanese Crypto Tax Reform off The Table?

Ishiba made his remarks about crypto tax in response to a question from the (opposition) Democratic Party for the People lawmaker Satoshi Asano.

The Prime Minister questioned the “appropriateness” of the government to “recommend investment in cryptoassets in the same way as it does for stocks and investment trusts.”

Japan’s New Prime Minister Reorganizes Web3, Crypto Policy Units

These traditional financial instruments, he noted, “have investor protection regulations in place,” unlike crypto.

He also suggested that the public may not “understand” issues pertaining to the “separate reporting of taxable income.”

“Issues like these require careful consideration.”

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba

At present, Japanese crypto investors must declare their crypto trading profits on annual tax declarations, where they must file under “other income.”

In parliamentary questioning Monday, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was grilled over issues ranging from the Liberal Democratic Party’s approach to political reform and his stance on social issues to the content of a supplementary budget. https://t.co/aLh55q6Ap7

— The Japan Times (@japantimes) December 2, 2024

This means that – depending on their annual incomes – they can pay anything between 15% and 55% tax on their crypto trading profits.

Critics say this is deeply unfair. They claim that Japanese crypto tax law is out of sync with other advanced economies.

Most of these nations typically oblige citizens to pay capital gains tax on “realized” crypto trading profits.

Ishiba also gave a cagey response when he was quizzed on his stance on crypto ETF approval. He said:

“The question of whether or not cryptoassets should be included in ETF offerings needs to be considered based on whether or not we should really strive to make it easier for the public to invest in cryptoassets.”

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda has plenty of data to support the case for raising the benchmark rate in December, an outcome that would mark the first tightening of policy three times in a calendar year since 1989 https://t.co/EpbXpScHYt

— Bloomberg (@business) December 3, 2024

Asano remarked that existing rules that “impose a maximum 55% tax in Japan” were “holding” the nation “back.”

He claimed they are “causing web3 companies and [capital] to flow out of the country.”

Cambodia blocks access to 16 crypto exchange websites https://t.co/CYILxRKj1a

— Nikkei Asia (@NikkeiAsia) December 3, 2024

Japan Crypto Tax Law and Bitcoin ETFs: PM Cautious

On X (Twitter), Yuichiro Tamaki, the Democratic Party for the People leader, hit out at Ishiba’s stance on the matter. He said Ishiba’s response to the question of crypto tax was “disappointing.”

“The PM gave no response to the [crypto tax question]. He is even reluctant to consider crypto asset ETFs. The gap between Japan and the United States, which aims to become a Bitcoin powerhouse, is growing ever wider.”

Tamaki

Tamaki concluded by asking:

“What on Earth has happened to the national strategy of becoming a major power in the web3 sector?”