The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has begun to consider the possibility of issuing a digital currency. The ruling party’s research committee and parliamentary group will compile proposals as early as this spring from the perspective of protecting personal information and preventing money laundering, and urge the government to take measures. The party anticipates the enactment of a new law on the matter in the future and intends to make preparations. The move is also driven by its wariness of China’s moves to take the lead in the introduction of a digital currency. (Abridged)