Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) has officially moved to solidify the nation’s digital asset framework by launching a public consultation on stringent new draft rules governing stablecoin reserve assets. This move marks a critical step in the practical implementation of the 2025 Payment Services Act overhaul, a legislative package enacted last June designed to formalize the country’s electronic payment landscape and provide a secure environment for digital innovation.
At the heart of the new proposal are strict limitations on how stablecoin issuers manage the “specified trust beneficiary interests” that back their tokens. Under the draft notices, issuers using trust structures will be restricted to a narrow pool of high-quality collateral to ensure stability and liquidity. To qualify as a reserve asset, foreign-issued bonds must meet two primary benchmarks: they must maintain a top-tier credit risk rating of 1–2 or higher from designated agencies, and the foreign issuer must have a total outstanding bond volume of at least 100 trillion yen, which is approximately $648 billion.
The FSA is also targeting the potential for consumer confusion regarding traditional financial institutions. New supervisory guidelines will now apply to banks and insurance companies whose subsidiaries offer cryptocurrency intermediation. Under the draft, these subsidiaries are required to provide explicit explanations to customers to ensure they do not underestimate the risks involved simply because a product is being offered by a recognizable or “safe” financial group. Furthermore, businesses seeking to handle foreign-issued stablecoins must now provide a formal check showing that the overseas issuer will not engage in direct issuance or solicitation toward general users within Japan.
This regulatory push arrives as Japan’s stablecoin market shifts from theoretical pilots to live infrastructure. Following the recent launch of the country’s first legally recognized yen-backed stablecoin by fintech firm JPYC, the nation’s three “megabanks”—MUFG, SMBC, and Mizuho—have continued to advance their own stablecoin and tokenized deposit projects. These interbank settlement pilots received formal backing from the FSA in December, signaling a coordinated effort to build a regulated ecosystem. The public consultation on these specific draft rules is set to remain open until February 27, 2026.
