Shiba Inu gains broader exchange access in Japan, but no ETF approved

Japan’s recent regulatory changes have expanded the availability of Shiba Inu (SHIB) on domestic platforms, yet no exchange‑traded fund (ETF) for the token has been filed or approved.

Regulatory framework updates

On July 15, Japan’s parliament passed legislation that aligns crypto assets with the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA). The law, promulgated on July 23 as Law No. 64, tightens disclosure, trading conduct and intermediary rules and creates a possible legal basis for regulated crypto funds. However, the legislation does not grant approval for any specific ETF, including those for Bitcoin, SHIB or other tokens.

SHIB’s Green List status

The Japan Virtual and Crypto Assets Exchange Association (JVCEA) includes SHIB on its Green List, which identifies assets handled by at least three member exchanges and with a trading history of six months or more. As of September 1, 2026, nine JVCEA members listed SHIB, compared with 29 for Bitcoin, 28 for Ether and 19 for XRP. Green List inclusion streamlines certain exchange reviews but does not automatically confer ETF eligibility.

Retail access expansion

Mercari’s subsidiary Mercoin added SHIB to its offering on June 8, 2026, allowing users to trade the token through the Mercari app via Coincheck. Mercoin reported over four million cumulative account openings by March 2026, with the majority of users new to crypto trading. This move broadens retail exposure to SHIB but does not involve any fund or ETF filing.

ETF prospects and tax considerations

Creating a SHIB ETF would require a sponsor to submit a product, regulatory clearance on listing and custody, and an exchange willing to list the fund. No such application has been identified in official materials. Additionally, proposed tax reforms, such as a 20 % separate tax rate slated for 2028, remain pending and are unrelated to Green List status.

Market snapshot

At press time, SHIB traded around $0.0000055, reflecting an 8 % rise over the past week and a 17 % increase over the past month.