Japan's SBI, Rakuten Securities plan to launch BTC, ETH investment trusts

Major Japanese securities firms SBI Securities and Rakuten Securities are planning to launch investment trust products based on BTC and ETH, Nikkei reported. According to the report, the companies are preparing a structure that would allow users to access cryptocurrency investment products through their existing securities accounts without needing a separate exchange or wallet. SBI aims to secure approximately 5 trillion yen in assets under management within three years through its group company, SBI Global Asset Management. A Nikkei survey also found that other major securities firms, including Nomura, Daiwa, and Mizuho, are considering entering the crypto investment product market once regulations are established. Meanwhile, Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) is reviewing whether to permit the inclusion of cryptocurrencies in investment trusts and ETFs, with a potential approval for a spot crypto ETF being discussed for around 2028.