payments
The Financial Services Agency (FSA) has finalized a regulatory amendment that effectively dismantles the legal barriers once relegating global stablecoins to the speculative fringes of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA). By reclassifying foreign-issued trust-type stablecoins from "Securities" to "Electronic Payment Instruments" under the Payment
crypto
2026 legislative reforms will transition the oversight of crypto-assets from the Payment Services Act to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA). By categorizing crypto-assets as investment products rather than simple payment methods, the government aims to strengthen investor protection and market integrity. The transition introduces rigorous disclosure requirements for
Insurance
Sony Financial Group and its subsidiary, Sony Life Insurance, have disclosed financial misconduct involving an insurance agent and approximately 30 customer complaints regarding inappropriate activity. In response to these incidents, the company has decided to abolish its exclusive agency system and transition existing branches to general agencies. Sony Life is
reinsurance
Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) is significantly expanding its regulatory framework for insurance companies, with the proposed revisions to the "Comprehensive Guidelines for Supervision of Insurance Companies" signaling a heightened focus on the economic reality of reinsurance contracts, particularly "asset-intensive" structures that have become increasingly
crypto
The Cabinet Office on Friday submitted proposed legislative reforms to Japan’s Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and the Payment Services Act, aimed at modernizing capital markets and enhancing investor protection, to the Diet. The headline-grabbing focus is reclassifying crypto-assets as financial products under stricter securities regulations to curb unfair
insurance agency
The regulatory fog surrounding Japan’s insurance sector is finally clearing, and for the nation’s largest multi-agent players, the forecast is heavy oversight. Following a series of structural scandals that rocked the non-life insurance industry, the Financial Services Agency (FSA) has unveiled a sweeping set of amendments to the
DeFi
SBI VC Trade has released the results of a pioneering proof-of-concept (PoC) aimed at bringing institutional-grade compliance to Decentralized Finance (DeFi). The experiment, conducted under the auspices of the Financial Services Agency’s (FSA) "FinTech Proof-of-Concept Hub," marks a significant step toward a "permissioned" DeFi ecosystem
supervision
In its newly released "On-Site Examination Policy for Fiscal 2026," the Bank of Japan outlined its supervisory roadmap for the coming year. While acknowledging that the Japanese financial system remains fundamentally sound and well-capitalized, the BOJ highlighted mounting vulnerabilities tied to paper losses on domestic bonds, aggressive real
payments
The landscape of business-to-business (B2B) transactions in Japan is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the rapid growth of Business Invoice Payment Services (BIPS). These services provide a vital bridge between traditional invoicing and modern cashless payments, enhancing operational flexibility for Japanese enterprises. This rapid adoption has outpaced direct legislative
regional revitalization
Released on December 18, 2025, the final report of the Financial Services Agency’s "Working Group on Strengthening Regional Financial Capabilities" outlines a comprehensive strategy to fortify Japan's regional banking sector against the headwinds of severe demographic decline and economic contraction. The document argues that for
insider trading
Japan’s Financial Services Agency took a decisive step toward tightening the reins on capital market misconduct today as the Financial System Council’s Market System Working Group convened to finalize its draft report. In a session characterized by broad consensus among legal experts, academics, and industry representatives, the council
regulation
In a decisive move to modernize Japan’s financial infrastructure while fortifying consumer protections in the digital asset space, the Financial Services Agency (FSA) has released a comprehensive suite of draft Cabinet Orders and Ordinances related to the impending amendment of the Payment Services Act. Released on December 16, 2025,