Exclusive: Japan beefs up diplomatic efforts on regulating digital currency - sources

FILE PHOTO: A Japanese yen currency sign (L) is seen at a currency exchange office as people line up to exchange money at Narita International airport, near Tokyo, Japan, March 25, 2016. REUTERS/Yuya Shino

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan is beefing up its diplomatic efforts to regulate digital currencies globally, three officials told Reuters, a sign of the government's growing alarm that a proliferation of new forms of private money could upend the financial system.

Tokyo is playing catch-up in a global debate among financial regulators about setting stricter rules on private digital currencies.