Japan Exchange Threatens Bitcoin-Hoarding Firms Amid Retail Investor Backlash

Tokyo’s financial watchdog flexes muscle as small traders cry foul—while whales keep stacking.

Regulatory Reckoning: The Japan Exchange Group (JPX) is drafting stricter oversight rules targeting corporations amassing Bitcoin reserves, sources reveal. This follows a surge in complaints from retail investors left holding bags after volatile price swings.

Behind the Crackdown: Critics accuse institutional players of distorting markets by treating BTC like a corporate treasury asset—while mom-and-pop traders bear the brunt of liquidations. The Financial Services Agency (FSA) hasn’t ruled out fines for non-compliance.

Bonus Finance Jab: Nothing says ‘market integrity’ like bureaucrats scrambling to regulate what they still don’t fully understand—five years after Bitcoin’s last ATH.

According to Bloomberg, Japan Exchange Group (JPX) is considering stricter rules to curb “coin-hoarding” listed companies, known as Digital Asset Traders (DATs), after heavy retail investor losses. JPX may tighten backdoor-listing enforcement, mandate re-audits, and restrict financing for firms prioritizing crypto accumulation. The exchange has already asked three prospective DATs to pause listing plans. Japan currently has 14 publicly traded Bitcoin-buying firms—the most in Asia—with Metaplanet, the largest, down over 75% since June.