TOKYO — Japan’s Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato said crypto assets, including Bitcoin, can serve as part of a diversified investment portfolio, underscoring a more open stance toward digital assets from the nation’s top fiscal authority. In a speech on 25 August, Kato pledged to create an “appropriate environment” for crypto assets that balances investor protection with the need to foster innovation. He pointed to growing domestic interest in Web3 technology, noting that the number of crypto trading accounts in Japan has reached roughly 12 million and that several yen-denominated stablecoins have already been issued. Kato said the government would focus on regulations that support competitiveness rather than stifle new business models, adding that Japan must position itself for the “next era” of finance. While he offered no timeline or detailed policy measures, the remarks signal continued political backing for the country’s digital-asset industry.