Japan Plans Major Crypto Tax Overhaul with Flat 20% Rate by 2026

Japan is preparing to introduce a friendlier tax regime for cryptocurrency investors, aiming to make its market more competitive and attractive to both retail and institutional players.

From High Burden to Flat Rate

Currently, crypto gains in Japan are treated as miscellaneous income. This classification can push combined national and local taxes as high as 55%, discouraging many from trading or holding digital assets in the country. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party, working through the Ministry of Finance and the Financial Services Agency, now plans to replace this with a flat 20% tax rate starting in fiscal year 2026.

Additional Reforms on the Table

Alongside the new flat tax, several reforms are under consideration:

• Loss carry-forward: Investors may be able to carry forward losses for up to three years, helping offset risks tied to crypto’s volatility.
• Equity-style regulation: Digital assets could be brought under rules similar to equities, including investor protections and possible insider trading restrictions.
• Simplified taxation: Authorities also aim to streamline tax procedures and clarify the treatment of different digital assets.

Japan’s current tax framework has long been criticized as a barrier to crypto adoption. Lowering the rate to 20% could:

• Make Japan more competitive against global crypto hubs.
• Encourage investors to stay in Japan instead of moving operations abroad.
• Provide regulatory clarity, boosting innovation in areas such as Web3 and decentralized finance.

The proposal still needs parliamentary approval before becoming law. Details such as how “crypto gains” will be defined, how local taxes will interact with the new rules, and how pre-2026 gains will be treated are not yet finalized. Even with a flat 20%, investors must stay mindful of reporting obligations, compliance costs, and transition rules.