IG Japan to Wind Down iShares Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF CFDs amid Policy Change
IG Securities, the local arm of trading giant IG
Group, is preparing to stop offering cryptocurrency ETF CFDs. The decision followed updated guidance from Japan’s
Financial Services Agency (FSA), which clarified how crypto ETF CFDs should be
handled in a revised policy.
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Suspension of New Orders
From Monday, December 1, 2025, IG Japan will no longer
accept new orders for cryptocurrency ETF CFDs and any pending orders at that time
will reportedly be canceled.
In its explanation, as translated from Japanese, the FSA earlier clarified that
ETFs containing specific crypto assets are essentially tied to the price of the
underlying cryptocurrency. Thus, derivatives based on such ETFs, even if
established overseas, are treated as transactions linked to crypto assets.
This means they fall under Japan’s regulations for
crypto-related derivatives, which are designed to account for the unique risks
and price volatility of digital assets.
Given that the creation and sale of crypto asset ETFs
are currently prohibited in Japan, the FSA views offering derivatives based on
overseas crypto ETFs as problematic.
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The firm emphasized that this change is a direct
response to the FSA’s updated guidance and comes after careful internal review.
Customers holding current positions in crypto ETF CFDs will still be able to
settle them, but they must act before the firm’s set deadline.
All positions must now be closed by the close of trading
on Saturday, January 31, 2026. IG Japan
warned that any positions left open past this date will be forcibly liquidated
at the closing price on January 31, 2026.
Products Affected
The discontinuation specifically affects iShares
Bitcoin Trust ETF and iShares Ethereum Trust ETF CFDs, which are currently
available for 24-hour trading. Other products and services offered by IG Japan
will reportedly continue unaffected.
The latest update, followed IG’s recent report that UK crypto
investors are nearly twice as likely to focus on long-term wealth creation than
on short-term gains, according to research from trading platform IG. In a survey of over 500 UK crypto holders, 51% said
their goal is building long-term wealth, while 27% cited short-term gains.
Many are also investing with specific life goals in
mind: 33% for retirement and 18% for a house deposit, with younger investors
aged 18–24 showing an even stronger long-term focus.
This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.
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