BOJ ETF Sales Could Boost Yen, Crypto Markets Watch

Key Highlights:

• Bank of Japan (BOJ) may start $534 billion in ETF sales from January 2026.
• BOJ ETF selling strengthens the yen, encourage carry trade unwinds, and potentially tighten liquidity for risk assets like Bitcoin.
• Japan has restricted unapproved crypto ETF CFDs, limiting retail leverage as the BOJ moves toward tighter, more normal policies.

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) plans to slowly sell the huge amount of stocks that it owns through ETFs as per Bloomberg report. This process is said to begin from January 2026. These investments are worth 83 trillion yen today. The selling will happen very gradually over many years so that it does not disturb the stock market. This move indicates that Japan is finally stepping away from the emergency-style money policy. It could strengthen the Japanese yen and make investors more cautious.

When something like this happens, people often pull money out of risky assets like crypto. Past tightening signals from central banks have often weighed on risk assets, prompting crypto traders to closely watch BOJ developments.

Yen Carry Trade Unwind Hits BTC Liquidity

From the report, BOJ selling its ETFs indicates a tighter money policy in Japan, which usually strengthens the yen. Analysts believe yen carry trades may have indirectly supported demand for risk assets like Bitcoin.

As the Japanese interest rates rise, this strategy becomes riskier and may lead some investors to reduce crypto exposure. This may have contributed to Bitcoin slipping below the $90,000 mark today, amid broader rate-hike fears.

At press time, the price of the token stands at $89,875.79 as per CoinMarketCap. According to the Crypto Fear and Greed Index, market sentiment currently stands at 16, which indicates extreme fear.

When the yen gets stronger, money flows back into Japan instead of staying in risky markets. This reduces overall liquidity and puts pressure on assets like crypto and stocks at the same time.

If Japanese stocks fall due to ETF selling, it often hurts confidence across markets, and Bitcoin can drop too-especially when trading activity is already thin.

Equity-Crypto Correlation Amplifies Risks

This planned ETF sell-off of in Japan is bigger than the total assets in BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF. This could change how institutional investors move money, but it may cause short-term drops in prices. Bitcoin has recently shown behavior similar to gold, which means it reacts strongly to central bank decisions, like BOJ’s, rather than just U.S. Fed policy.

Some analysts warn prolonged weakness in Japanese equities could pressure Bitcoin prices further.

Regulatory Backdrop in Japan

Japan has moved to restrict trading of crypto-related CFDs (contracts for difference) that are not approved locally. Companies like IG Securities must close these positions. The Financial Services Agency (FSA) treats foreign Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs as crypto derivatives, so trading them without approval is not allowed, especially as the BOJ tightens policy.

This limits how much Japanese retail investors can access crypto through such products, pushing them instead toward buying actual crypto directly or using U.S. based ETFs.

Along with BOJ’s plan to slowly sell ETFs, the institution has kept interest rates steady, and this shows a careful approach to returning to normal policy. The ETF sales could put short-term pressure on Bitcoin by reducing market liquidity and making yen-based carry trades less profitable.

At the same time, keeping rates low and allowing inflation to rise gradually could encourage investors to move money into Bitcoin, as a hedge, which will support its price over the long term.

As the BOJ is selling ETFs slowly, about ¥620 billion a year, to avoid shocks, but its influence will have an effect on the price of the token. Some traders believe crypto traders are on a look out and hoping the Bitcoin spot ETF could push BTC back to $95,000 to $100,000 if the Fed stays easy.

Also Read: Metaplanet Reveals MERCURY, Japan’s First Bitcoin-Backed Shares