Japan has given final approval to an amendment to its Financial Instruments and Exchange Act that classifies crypto assets as financial products. The move shifts the existing regulatory framework, which managed crypto assets as a means of payment, toward one centered on investment products. Along with introducing investor protections on par with securities markets, the amendment establishes the institutional foundation for Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which is expected to accelerate product launches. According to NHK and other outlets on the 15th, Japan's House of Councillors passed the amendment to the ... (full story)