12 Jan 2026 Anthony Lehrman
Japan’s Web3 Momentum Accelerates: Institutional Adoption, Policy Tailwinds, and Rising Calls for “Crypto ETF-ization”
As Japan enters 2026, the country’s Web3 industry is entering a renewed acceleration phase. Traditional financial institutions—including banks, securities firms, and trust companies—are increasing their commitments across areas such as RWA (real-world assets), security tokens, and 24/7 tokenized trading platforms, signaling that institutional involvement is shifting from early experimentation to systematic adoption.
At the same time, Japan is seeing clearer policy support at the government level. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama has recently stated that she supports introducing crypto asset trading mechanisms into Japan’s traditional market infrastructure—including stock exchanges and commodity exchanges—and referenced the U.S. crypto ETF market as a model. Her comments reflect growing momentum for enabling major digital assets such as BTC and ETH to enter mainstream, regulated investment channels.
Meanwhile, Japan’s crypto tax reform is also progressing. Multiple reports indicate the government is considering lowering the current top tax rate on crypto gains—reported to be as high as 55%—to a level closer to equities, around 20%, alongside improvements to regulatory frameworks and investor protection mechanisms. This would represent a major shift in the market environment and could unlock further innovation.
On the corporate side, DAT (Digital Asset Treasury) strategies are emerging as a notable trend. An increasing number of companies are exploring ways to incorporate digital assets into their balance sheets—either as reserves or as part of broader treasury strategies—driving continued interest and activity across the ecosystem.
At the community level, Japan’s Web3 ecosystem continues to mature, with steady growth in developers, researchers, and startup communities. The industry is gradually moving beyond speculative trading toward real-world applications and commercialization, supported by a strengthening network of builders and entrepreneurs.
Against this broader backdrop, one of Japan’s largest tech summits bridging Web3 and AI—TEAMZ Web3 / AI Summit 2026—has announced major updates: Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, are confirmed to speak at the summit as part of the first speaker announcement wave. TEAMZ also confirmed that the summit’s highest partnership tier, Title Sponsor (10 slots total), has officially sold out, signaling strong demand from leading global players.
Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and Yuichiro Tamaki Confirmed as Speakers
TEAMZ announced that Satsuki Katayama (Finance Minister / Minister for Financial Services) will attend TEAMZ Summit 2026 and deliver a keynote address. Minister Katayama has long been focused on financial system reform and industrial transformation, and her participation is widely seen as a strong signal of deeper policy-industry engagement as Japan accelerates digital asset and financial innovation.
TEAMZ also confirmed the participation of Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People and a Member of the House of Representatives. Tamaki previously served at Japan’s Ministry of Finance (formerly the Ministry of Finance and the old Ministry of Finance structures), and has extensive government experience across the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Financial Services Agency, and the Osaka Regional Taxation Bureau. He is expected to contribute meaningful perspectives on digital finance, industrial policy, and Japan’s global competitiveness.
Web3 × AI Expansion: From “Crypto” to Next-Generation Infrastructure
TEAMZ Summit has long served as a platform connecting global Web3 industry leaders. In 2026, the summit will undergo a major evolution: while continuing to cover core Web3 topics, the event will expand significantly into Artificial Intelligence (AI)—bringing the intersection of the “on-chain economy” and the “AI revolution” into sharper focus.
The theme for this year’s summit is “Tradition Meets Tomorrow.” For the first time, TEAMZ Summit will be held at Happo-en, a historic Japanese garden venue with over 400 years of history, located in Tokyo. Organizers aim to deliver an experience that combines Japanese tradition and aesthetics with cutting-edge technology—allowing participants to explore the forefront of blockchain and AI integration in a setting unlike conventional conference venues.
First Wave of Speakers Announced: Global Web3 and AI Leaders Gather in Tokyo
Beyond the two major political speakers, TEAMZ also announced an expanding roster of international and Japanese industry leaders, including but not limited to:
- Subash (Tether), Michael Terpin (Transform Ventures), Kangsu Kim (Matsuo Institute, Inc.)
- Nick DiSisto (Trust Wallet), Takatoshi Shibayama (Ledger)
- Genki Oda (JVCEA), Sota Watanabe (Startale Group), Tomohiko Kondo (SBI VC Trade)
- Ken Kodama (EMURGO), Mai Furukawa (XRPL Japan), Hironori Kunimitsu (FiNANCiE)
- Vineet Budki (Sigma Capital), Ken Kawai (Anderson Mori & Tomotsune)
- Salim (Maidaan AI), Tatsuya Saito (Progmat), So Saito (So & Sato Law Office)
- Marc Piano (Horizons Global), Anand Iyer (Canonical)
Together, these speakers represent a wide range of leadership across Web3 and AI, covering major infrastructure, regulation, venture capital, legal frameworks, and enterprise adoption.
Title Sponsor Category Sold Out: XRP, Cardano, SBI VCT, Startale, EMURGO and More Join Top Partnership Tier
TEAMZ confirmed that the summit’s highest partnership level, Title Sponsor (10 slots), has sold out ahead of the event. Global industry leaders including Binance, XRP, Cardano, SBI VCT, Startale, EMURGO, AAC, and Envo have officially joined TEAMZ Summit 2026 as top-tier partners.
In addition to Title Sponsors, sponsorship and exhibition opportunities are continuing to attract strong participation. Web3 and AI companies from around the world will gather at Happo-en in Tokyo to showcase new technologies, explore ecosystem collaboration, and build global partnerships.
For information regarding sponsoring companies, please refer to the official website: https://www.teamz.co.jp/2026/participants
Global Reach Strengthened by 100+ Media, Community, VC Partners, and Supporters
TEAMZ Summit 2026 is supported by an international network of over 100 partners, including media organizations, community partners, venture capital firms, and ecosystem supporters. Summit announcements and discussions will be distributed in real time across partner channels, maximizing global visibility and accelerating business matchmaking opportunities for participating companies and projects.
Media partners include: Cointelegraph Global, CoinPost, bitcoin.com, Cointelegraph Japan, BlockBeats, Foresight News, Crypto Times, PANews, Jinse Finance, BlockTempo, Iolite, Pacific Meta, and others.
Community partners include: PALacademy, Akindo, Hakuhodo Key3, Progmat, Shibuya Web3 University, CIC Tokyo, Tokyo Fintech, and more.
VC and investor partners include: Draper Associates, Dragonfly, Blockchain Capital, Wintermute, Hyperithm, NGC Ventures, SevenX Ventures, and more, reflecting growing global investment participation.
For information regarding media partners, community partners, VC partners, and supporting organizations, please refer to the official website: https://www.teamz.co.jp/2026/participants
Continued Endorsement from Japan’s Three Major Industry Associations
TEAMZ also confirmed continued support in 2026 from Japan’s three leading industry associations representing the country’s Web3 and crypto asset sector:
- Japan Cryptoasset Business Association (JCBA)
- Japan Virtual and Crypto Assets Exchange Association (JVCEA)
- Japan Blockchain Association (JBA)
Their endorsement provides a strong foundation for the summit’s professionalism, compliance orientation, and industry credibility.
TEAMZ Web3 / AI Summit 2026 — Event Overview
- Dates: April 7 (Tue) – April 8 (Wed), 2026
- Venue: Happo-en, Minato City, Tokyo
- Theme: Tradition Meets Tomorrow
- Speakers: 130+
- Expected Attendance: 10,000+
- Official Website: https://web3.teamz.co.jp/
- Tickets: https://web3.teamz.co.jp/en/tickets-list-2026
About TEAMZ
TEAMZ is a global accelerator focused on Web3 and AI. Through event production, marketing support, corporate partnership building, and ecosystem development, TEAMZ helps strengthen Japan’s innovation environment. Its flagship event, TEAMZ Web3 / AI Summit, welcomes participants from over 50 countries and serves as an international business platform connecting startups, investors, enterprises, and government stakeholders.
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