Does this mean that you can freely open bitcoin casinos in japan, a country where gambling is strictly illegal except yakuza pachinko parlors?
Definitely, I am sure the Yakuza wont mind
does this mean anything for the mtgox trial?
If Bitcoin cannot be covered under the existing law then Mark Karples cannot be prosecuted for stealing all those Bitcoins under the existing law. He can only be prosecuted for embezzling the fiat from customer's accounts. I'm eager to hear what they will charge him with. If he doesn't get charged for stealing Bitcoins then there will be a huge influx of Bitcoin exchange hackers into Japan.
I too am very curious to see how this unfolds.
So with no ownership over bitcoin, I'd expect cryptocurrencies to never be widespread in Japan. Then again, we don't know hoe valid this order is and how seriously is going to be regarded.
The only thing you need to own a bitcoin is to hold the private key. The government cannot do anything to change that basic fact.
Use multisig?
I don't see any difference with what is already happening with regards to that matter.
And that is, exchanges claiming they have been "hacked", if you know what I mean
