Provisional Translation

Q.

On the topic of virtual currencies, yesterday two so-called industry groups agreed to establish a self-regulatory body, and I’d like to ask how you view this and what your hopes are for the future given that confidence in virtual currencies has been shaken.

A.

It’s a mistake to say that a self-regulatory body will be established. The fact of the matter is that discussions have got underway with a view to establishing a self-regulatory body. The FSA is conducting inspections and supervision, and I don’t know whether or not a self-regulatory body will come into being, but I think it’s important that users will be protected by a self-regulatory body’s flexible application of its own rules, so I still hope that a self-regulatory body’s autonomy will continue to be respected and that its request for certification will be made at an early stage.