According to reports on September 15 from Nikkei, a giant in the financial publication world, the Japanese government is set to begin allowing startups in the country to issue cryptocurrency to investors, in place of more traditional stocks.

“When startups receive investment from investment funds, they will be able to hand over crypto assets (virtual currency) instead of stocks, etc.” reads the translated article.

Nikkei suggests that the move will allow startups a more diverse range of funding methods, claiming that Japan has largely fallen behind various other nations, regarding digital asset regulation.

If reports are true, it places the Japanese regulatory landscape in stark contrast to that in the US, which has seen regulatory bodies, most obviously the SEC, looking to clamp down on cryptocurrency token offerings.