Japan's Finance Minister Declares 2026 as 'Digital Year'

According to BlockBeats, Japan's Finance Minister, Katayama Satsuki, announced at the Tokyo Stock Exchange's New Year opening ceremony that 2026 will be designated as the 'Digital Year.' Katayama emphasized the crucial role of commodity and securities exchanges in enabling citizens to benefit from digital and blockchain assets. She expressed hope that exchange infrastructure would facilitate the widespread adoption of cryptocurrencies and digital assets. Katayama noted that in the United States, crypto assets have become a tool for combating inflation through exchange-traded funds (ETFs), suggesting that Japan might consider similar measures. As the Minister of Finance, Katayama pledged full support for exchanges in their efforts to create a trading environment utilizing advanced financial technology and expressed optimism for a record-breaking stock market this year.