TEAMZ Summit 2025 Held at Record Scale The Future of Web3 and AI Gathers in Tokyo

On April 16, 2025, Day 1 of the TEAMZ Web3/AI Summit 2025 successfully took place at Toranomon Hills in Tokyo.

Day 1 featured a diverse lineup of key figures from across the spectrum — including government officials, major tech companies, startups, international VCs, investors, and developers. The sessions covered a wide range of timely and multifaceted topics such as the Osaka Expo, real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, regulatory developments, the intersection of Web3 and AI, and global investment strategies.

This article delivers a digest of all the panel discussions and keynote sessions from Day 1. Take a look to discover the forefront of dialogue shaping the future.

9:50 Opening: Welcome to TEAMZ Web3/AI Summit 2025
Speaker: Tianyu Yang (CEO / TEAMZ)

The TEAMZ Web3/AI Summit 2025 has officially begun.
In this unpredictable era, not only online information, but also offline physical connections are indispensable for business and innovation.
With the mission of “connecting people directly,” the event has expanded since 2017 around themes of Web3, blockchain, and AI.
Now, it has grown into one of the largest in Japan, gathering 130 speakers, over 400 partners, and 100 side events.
TEAMZ also places importance on contributing to its partners and Japan's Web3 community, and announced the next edition scheduled for 2026.
A call was made for the co-creation of innovation.

10:00 The Future of Web3 Unfolded by the EXPO2025 Digital Wallet and the Leap Toward Osaka as an International Financial City

Speakers:
Genki Oda (Chairman / Japan Virtual and Crypto Assets Exchange Association (JVCEA))
Hiroshi Yoshida (CEO / HashPort)
Yuki Kamimoto (CEO / N.AVENUE Inc.)
Kenichi Kawamoto (Director of Planning / Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition)
Nae Nakamura (Director of International and Wide-Area Startup Support Division / Osaka Business Development Agency)
Moderator: Yuki Kamimoto

The 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo is positioned as a significant opportunity to promote the societal implementation of Web3 under the concept of a “People’s Living Lab for Future Society.”
This session featured discussions among key figures from both the public and private sectors, focusing on how the “EXPO2025 Digital Wallet,” to be offered at the Expo venue, will contribute to the mass adoption of Web3.

Moderator Kamimoto (N.Avenue) evaluated the wallet from personal experience, highlighting its seamless ability to acquire NFTs and SBTs, and expressed expectations for Web3’s expansion through the Expo.
Yoshida, CEO of HashPort, introduced that the wallet is already being used by many visitors and is designed to accumulate “experience points” through acquiring NFTs and making payments.
He explained that the higher the experience points, the greater the probability of winning pavilion lotteries—showcasing a structure where Web3 technology delivers practical benefits to user experiences.
Additionally, the wallet features an “EXPO Token” with a value of 1 token = 1 yen. This innovative mechanism allows the token to be used even at general Visa-affiliated stores via SBI's charging stations.

Oda, Chairman of JVCEA, emphasized the importance of Web3 in developing Osaka into an international financial city.
He shared that a fintech center has been established in cooperation with Osaka City, and active efforts are underway to attract startups and overseas companies.
Nakamura from the Osaka Business Development Agency stated that the agency is promoting startup support and global collaboration.
At the Expo, many exhibition opportunities are also provided for small and medium enterprises and startups.

Thus, the Expo is not merely a showcase but a platform for naturally integrating Web3 into daily life—a breakthrough point for mass adoption.
Through joint efforts among government, private sector, and startups, the Expo is expected to become the starting point for a Japanese-origin Web3 adoption model.

10:45 The Future of the Decentralized Economy – A New Web3 Ecosystem Created by TRON
Speaker: Sam Elfarra (Community PR Representative / TRON)

Sam Elfarra, community representative of TRON DAO, introduced TRON as an affordable and fast blockchain, particularly dominant in the areas of stablecoins and payments.
TRON handles 7 to 8 million transactions daily and has over 300 million wallets, with significant adoption across the Global South—regions like Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
In areas lacking solid financial infrastructure, TRON’s low-cost and real-time payment capabilities are accelerating financial inclusion.

Thanks to TRON’s gas abstraction functionality, users can transact using only stablecoins without holding gas tokens, greatly improving user experience.
As a case study, Elfarra explained that intra-African trade involves $120 billion per year, with $10 billion lost in fees.
By leveraging TRON, these costs can be significantly reduced.

He called on developers and enterprises to create new financial solutions using Web3 technology.

11:00 The Future of New Economic Spheres and Society Brought by Web3 and AI
Speakers:
Takuya Hirai (Head of PR Headquarters & Head of Digital Society Promotion Headquarters / Liberal Democratic Party of Japan)
Yuzo Kano (CEO / bitFlyer)
Jun Watanabe (Chairman / SONY BLOCK SOLUTIONS LABS PTE. LTD.)
Genki Oda (Chairman / Japan Virtual and Crypto Assets Exchange Association (JVCEA))
Yusuke Otsuka (Executive Officer, CBDO / Coincheck, Inc.)
Moderator: Genki Oda

This panel discussion addressed the societal and economic impacts of the convergence of Web3 and AI in Japan, along with the current progress and future outlook for regulatory frameworks and industry advancement.
Central to the discussion was the newly released white paper on crypto assets by the Liberal Democratic Party, which positions crypto assets as a new asset class.
It advocates for the introduction of separate taxation, enhanced investor protection, and the development of a sound market.
This positions crypto assets within a flexible and practical legal framework distinct from securities.

In response, Yuzo Kano from bitFlyer and Yusuke Otsuka from Coincheck praised Japan’s forward-thinking legal environment, stating it could serve as a foundation for future innovation.
They noted that improvements in the environment—such as supporting token issuance and IEOs by Web3 businesses—are expected to boost the growth of application-layer projects.

Jun Watanabe of Sony introduced the "Sony U" L2 chain on Ethereum, which includes copyright management functions and aims to promote the use of Web3 technologies, especially in the entertainment industry.
As a reliable Japanese infrastructure, it is gaining attention for both domestic and international applications.

On the AI side, Takuya Hirai highlighted the ongoing introduction of “agile legal systems” that flexibly respond to the rapidly evolving AI sector.
The fusion of AI and Web3 is seen as an inevitable topic moving forward, and future legal considerations must include copyright and the handling of personal data.

With these efforts in mind, it was argued that to re-establish Japan as a global Web3 hub, regulatory reforms around leverage and taxation will be crucial.
Practical and sustainable policy and industrial support for the social implementation of Web3 and AI could lead to the re-emergence of Japan as a leader in the global digital economy.

11:45 Transforming Finance with Web3: Rebuilding Modern Payment and Settlement Infrastructure
Speaker: Siang Tan (Topos VP / PlatON)

In this session, veteran payments expert Siang Tan introduced the concept of “Tokenization 3.0” and outlined the vision for its implementation on the PlatON blockchain.
Tokenization 3.0 represents the next evolution of blockchain-based payments, going beyond traditional card transactions to create a system that connects both Web2 and Web3.
It supports a wide range of processes including cross-border remittances, token issuance, commercial payments, and OTC trades—offering an integrated approach to modern finance.

Under traditional “Web2 payments” (i.e., card or wallet payments), settlement between banks is still required even after transaction confirmation.
In contrast, “Web3 payments” enable tokens to be instantly sent to merchants, with both payment and value transfer occurring simultaneously.
This model significantly improves the efficiency and transparency of the payment ecosystem.

PlatON aims to serve as this new payment infrastructure by providing both a high-performance, EVM-compatible chain and enterprise-grade application chains that organizations can customize and manage independently.
The platform also emphasizes regulatory compliance, offering formal verification of smart contracts and operation systems aligned with the legal frameworks of various countries.

PlatON has already seen multiple implementations in Southeast Asia and plans further expansion into the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and South America.

12:00 Announcement of XRPL Japan Community Launch
Speaker: Mai Furukawa (Co-founder, XRPL JAPAN)

Mai Furukawa introduced XRP and its foundational technology, the XRPLedger (XRPL).
XRP ranks second in trading volume within Japan, and after the lawsuit with the SEC concluded with a recognition that XRP is “not a security,” its credibility has significantly improved.
XRPL enables fast and low-cost transactions and has been operating stably for over 10 years as the world’s first blockchain with a built-in decentralized exchange (DEX).
Its design without smart contracts allows businesses to adopt the network at reduced cost.

Japanese NFT creators are actively building on XRPL.
The XRPL Japan community is currently organizing monthly contests, study sessions, sharing updates via X (formerly Twitter), and hosting offline events.
They also plan to participate in an international event in Singapore this June and expressed a strong commitment to expanding the Japanese community.

12:05 The Future Brought by Tariff Policy under the Trump Administration: Impacts on the Japanese Economy and Web3/AI Industries and Countermeasures
Speakers:

• Satsuki Katayama (Chairperson, House of Councillors Committee on Audit / Liberal Democratic Party)
• Kojiro Moriwaka (CEO / Silicon Valley Ventures)
  Moderator: Kojiro Moriwaka

In this session, Satsuki Katayama shared her insights on how tariff policies under a Trump administration could affect Japan's economy as well as the Web3 and AI industries.
She noted that while the U.S.-Japan economic relationship is already mature and Japan is unlikely to be directly targeted under policies emphasizing American manufacturing, the reality is that Japan cannot fully avoid the effects of “universal tariffs.”
As the largest foreign holder of U.S. Treasuries (over $1 trillion), Japan must approach currency and trade negotiations with caution and strategic foresight.

Katayama added that shifts in the international economic landscape could also impact advanced technology sectors like Web3 and AI.
She stressed the need for Japan to remain a strategically neutral nation in terms of institutional design and values, avoiding overdependence on the U.S. or China.
She called for leadership in establishing international rules, especially regarding the design of the digital yen and stablecoins, and emphasized the importance of developing flexible systems that consider taxation and international collaboration.

Overall, Katayama asserted that Japan, as a nation focused on investment and trade, must implement policies that can respond to both technological innovation and geopolitical risk.

13:00 End-to-End Web3.0 Ecosystem Realized by AlibabaCloud
Speaker: Hironobu Izumi (Senior Solutions Architect / Alibaba Cloud)

Hironobu Izumi from Alibaba Cloud spoke on the theme of building an end-to-end Web3.0 ecosystem using Alibaba Cloud.
As the cloud provider with the most data centers in Asia, Alibaba Cloud is well-aligned with hubs of Web3 activity like Singapore and Dubai.

The company offers comprehensive support across Infrastructure (IaaS), Platform (PaaS), and partners with its advanced AI research institute "Damo Academy" to provide technologies essential to Web3, including blockchain, AI, security, and KYC/AML solutions.
This comprehensive approach enables the establishment of digital trust, which is essential to Web3.

Alibaba Cloud also supports blockchain node management, data analytics infrastructure, and real-time analysis using tools like ClickHouse.
It backs large-scale projects like Chainbase.
In the field of generative AI, Alibaba Cloud is deploying high-performance models like Qwen-VL-Max, aiming to support Web3 development from both technological and ecosystem perspectives.

13:15 Frontlines of Web3 & AI Investment – New Opportunities and Challenges from Next-Gen Technologies
Speakers:

• Justin Waldron (Founding Contributor / OPEN GAME PROTOCOL)
• James Wo (Founder & CEO / DFG)
• Kevin Lee (Managing Partner / Infinity Ventures Crypto)
• Satoshi Shinada (Co-founder & General Partner / KEPPLE AFRICA VENTURES INC.)
  Moderator: Kevin Lee

In this session, international investors discussed the emerging opportunities and challenges created by Web3 and AI, two complementary technologies.
It was highlighted that AI and Web3 together could enhance identity verification (like KYC), while Web3 could serve as the foundation for evaluating and distributing the growing volume of generative AI content.

However, rapid changes in these markets demand agility from both investors and entrepreneurs.
In regions like Africa and the Middle East, opportunities differ from those in developed countries — for example, using surplus energy for AI infrastructure or utilizing regulatory sandboxes for experimentation.
Key challenges include a lack of on-chain data, complex UX, and undeveloped social infrastructure.

To overcome these issues, strengthening security with AI and using token-based incentives were cited as promising approaches.
The session concluded that the integration of AI and Web3 holds great promise, but a phased and adaptable strategy is essential.

13:45 The Future of RWA and Retail Investors: New Investment Opportunities Opened by Web3
Speakers:

• Tatsuya Saito (CEO & Founder / PROGMAT)
• Yuki Kamimoto (CEO / N.AVENUE Inc.)
• Akihiro Nakao (President & CEO / KDX ST Partners Co., Ltd.)
• Shuhei Ochiai (General Manager / TOYOTA FINANCE SERVICES & TOYOTA BLOCKCHAIN LAB)
  Moderator: Yuki Kamimoto

This session explored the status of security tokens (ST) in Japan and how they can provide new investment experiences for retail investors.
The tokenized real-world asset (RWA) market has grown to around 310 billion yen, with real estate accounting for 70%.

KDX issued Japan’s first real estate ST and is shifting toward a second phase that emphasizes investor trust, simplicity, and experiential value tied to the properties themselves.
TOYOTA FINANCE SERVICES is experimenting with tokenizing vehicles to connect investors directly with their customers. Despite challenges involving personal data and contracts, they are creating new frameworks through pilot projects.

Meanwhile, PROGMAT is envisioning a long-term infrastructure that allows for tokenizing various domestic and international assets—including stablecoins—and enabling their mutual exchange.

In summary, with legal improvements and technological standardization, the tokenization of RWA is expanding opportunities for retail investors and aims to more directly convey the true value of real-world assets.

14:30 Next-Gen Digital Engagement: Evolving Corporate Communication through Web3 and AI
Speaker: Aditya Tallapragada (Director & President / INTERAKT & AKT HEAKTH)

AKT HEAKTH is an IT company in the healthcare space building systems that allow patients and users to control their health data using blockchain technology.
By leveraging “DePIN” (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks), it visualizes and rewards wellness data obtained through connected devices via tokens or NFTs.
The company aims to move from wellness applications to obtaining medical certification, with a beta release scheduled for this month and a marketplace launch planned by year-end.

14:40 Comparing Web3 Investment Strategies Across Asia, the U.S., and Europe
Speakers:

• Tobias Bauer (GP & Co-founder / TBV)
• Sophia (Venture Business Lead / GSG)
• Lloyd Lee (CEO / Hyperithm)
• Ciara Sun (Founder & Managing Partner / C² Ventures)
• Shawn Tan (General Partner / TRIVE DIGITAL)
  Moderator: Sophia

This session compared Web3 investment strategies across Asia, the U.S., and Europe.
In Asia, there is a strong focus on gaming and applications with large user bases, while in the U.S., innovation in infrastructure and DeFi are the main focus areas.

With the SEC dropping lawsuits and favorable government policy, the U.S. investment environment has slightly improved.
In Asia, tax incentives and institutional investor participation are increasing expectations, especially in Japan and South Korea.

To deal with decreasing token liquidity and the rising reluctance of investors to lock capital, many funds are adopting hedge fund-like strategies and short-term OTC investments.
It was also noted that the bear market presents a good opportunity for long-term investment.
Though there are regional differences based on developer strength and regulation, global convergence and interconnectivity are expected to increase as the market matures.

15:10 The Future of Bitcoin: Its Role as Digital Gold and Integration into the Financial System
Speakers:

• Asal Alizade (Co-founder & CEO / BLOCKLOGICA LABS)
• Lingling Jiang (Partner / DWF LABS)
• Dmitry Sheludko (CEO & Founder / BICONOMY)
• Kyle Ellicott (Executive Director / Stacks Asia Foundation)
• Kyoji Okazawa (Japan Representative / Digital Climate Japan)
  Moderator: Asal Alizade

This panel centered around the theme “Has Bitcoin truly become ‘digital gold’?”
The discussion noted that with the expansion of ETFs and adoption by corporate balance sheets, Bitcoin has been steadily penetrating the investor and institutional market.
However, due to its high volatility, it still functions as an alternative asset and a tool for risk diversification in the short term.

Amid increasing geopolitical fragmentation globally, Bitcoin adoption may accelerate in emerging countries suffering from inflation and currency instability.
In the long run, Bitcoin is expected to evolve beyond a “store of value” into a productive asset.
Institutional involvement is projected to grow depending on national policies and regulatory stances.

One of the biggest misconceptions about Bitcoin is its volatility—some panelists pointed out that it is comparable to individual stocks.
As the market matures, Bitcoin’s integration into financial systems will be a key point of attention.

15:40 AI and Asset Management: Data-Driven Investment Strategies and Risk Management
Speakers:

• Sungku Kim (CEO/CIO / Nexus One)
• Heric Peng (Co-founder / Pentos Ventures)
• Jessie Lo (Co-founder / SoSoValue)
• Max Zheng (Senior Advisor / Mercuryo)
• Poseidon Ho (Founding Partner & CEO / Outliers Fund)
  Moderator: Max Zheng

This panel discussed data-driven investment strategies and risk management in the era of AI.
Moderator Max Zheng highlighted that AI is still developing around LLMs (Large Language Models), but may eventually evolve into conscious AI agents.

Sungku Kim of Nexus One emphasized the synergy between AI and Web3, stating that the transparency and traceability of blockchain can support AI decision-making.

Jessie Lo from SoSoValue introduced an AI-optimized information platform for investors that organizes massive data flows.

Poseidon Ho of Outliers Fund, drawing on a decade of blockchain investment experience, forecasted expansion across a broad “computing” domain, including AI and quantum computing.

In summary, AI is positioned as a technology that strengthens risk management and information organization for crypto investors and businesses, serving as a bridge between traditional finance and emerging digital finance.

16:10 Japan's Web3 Innovation and International Collaboration: Potential of Global Partnerships
Speakers:

• Emi Yoshikawa (Former VP of Strategy & Operations / Ripple)
• Hinza Asif (Founder & CEO, Blockza / Asia Web3 Alliance Japan)
• Yusuke Kaga (Startup Support Division / JETRO)
• Seiya Yun (Founder & CEO / Socious)
• Yuta Create (Japan Hub Manager / Intersect)
  Moderator: Hinza Asif

Japan's Web3 ecosystem has experienced highs and lows over the past decade.
Through enhanced regulations and responses to hacking incidents, Japan has now built a robust and trustworthy system.

Government-level support has recently expanded, and major corporations are increasingly engaged in open innovation.
With its vast IP and content assets, Japan has a unique opportunity to attract global attention.

However, challenges remain, such as low on-chain activity and lagging development in non-custodial services.
JETRO is supporting global expansion through business setup assistance, information provision, and boost programs for overseas startups.
Organizations like Intersect are also reinforcing international collaboration.

Looking forward, enhanced public-private cooperation and elevating use cases such as tokenization and DAOs to practical levels will be key to propelling both domestic and international startups to the next stage.

16:40 Web3 Companies to Watch in 2025: Strategies of Leading Players from Japan and Abroad
Speakers:

• Navjit Dhaliwal (CEO / IAGON)
• Arion HO (Co-founder / ENIAC)
• 0xARBV (Founder / KRAKO)
• Kenji Narushima (Co-founder / PublicAI)
• Laura (Marketing Partner / elven)
• Shun Mizuoka (CEO / UPBOND)
  Moderator: Max Zheng

The speakers represented a variety of services including decentralized infrastructure providers (for storage and computing), AI data collection systems, enterprise-focused Layer 1 chains, and accounting/audit solutions.

The reasons these companies chose the Japanese market include strict regulations, high safety standards, abundant IP assets, and technical talent.
However, Japan’s cautious corporate culture and language barriers were also noted as entry hurdles.

The keys to success include understanding corporate compliance expectations and culture, offering small-scale pilots, and clearly presenting mutual benefits.
The panel also emphasized the need for Japan to be more open to global startups and demonstrate faster decision-making and openness.

17:20 – Outlook for the Cryptocurrency Market in 2025: Is the Next Bull Market Coming?

Speakers:

• Yoshikazu Abe (CSO / HYPERITHM)
• Kasou Nishi (Senior Managing Director & Analyst / X-mobile)
• hajimex (President / Shibuya Web3 University)
• Marin Matsushima (Crypto Asset Analyst / Monex Securities Co., Ltd.)
• Tomoya Hasegawa (Market Analyst / Bitbank Inc.)
• Hidekazu Kondo (Founder / JAPAN OPEN CHAIN)
  Moderator: hajimex

This panel, titled “Outlook for the Cryptocurrency Market in 2025: Is the Next Bull Market Coming?”, explored the price trends of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, regulatory developments, and technological advances in AI and blockchain.

Among the speakers, opinions were split between those expecting a short-term bearish phase due to U.S. tariff policies and economic conditions, and those anticipating a bull market around 2025 driven by regulatory clarity and institutional participation.

The growing use of stablecoins and improvements in Web3 infrastructure were also highlighted as factors supporting market expansion.
The panel emphasized that beyond simple price increases, technological and regulatory evolution will be essential for sustainable future growth in the crypto space.

17:50 TEAMZ Summit 2025 Day 1 Closing
Speaker: Tianyu Yang（CEO / TEAMZ）

The first day of TEAMZ Summit 2025 concluded successfully, featuring a diverse range of speakers and lively sessions.
About 20 side events were scheduled for the evening.
Tianyu Yang expressed gratitude to attendees and partners, and hinted at a particularly exciting program for Day 2.

As part of the Day 1 closing, he encouraged all participants to enjoy the evening events and look forward to the second day of the summit.