The Cutting Edge of Web3 and AI Converges in Tokyo TEAMZ Summit 2025 Held at Record Scale Next Edition Confirmed for 15,16 April 2026

On Thursday, April 17, 2025, “TEAMZ Web3/AI Summit 2025” Day 2 concluded successfully at Toranomon Hills Forum in Tokyo. This article provides a digest of the key sessions held on Day 2 of TEAMZ Summit 2025, offering insights into the current state and future prospects of Japan's Web3 and AI ecosystem.

9:30 – Digital Economic Zone in Tokyo Pioneered by Web3 and AI

Speaker: Nobuko Irie (Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Member, Deputy Representative of Tomin First no Kai / Tomin First no Kai)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced its policy to accelerate the digital economy in the metropolitan area with a focus on Web3 and AI, under the theme of “Fusion of Tradition and Innovation.” The specific measures include:
① Operation of the startup co-creation hub “Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB)” and provision of funding through public-private partnership funds.
② Creation of business opportunities and global outreach through the annual large-scale international event “SusHi Tech Tokyo.”
③ Advancement of capital markets via the “Tokyo Financial Award,” which promotes financial innovation, and support for the issuance of security tokens.
④ Establishment of governance through three perspectives to elevate citizen services and build a Japan Model for AI utilization: use in public administration, dialogue with residents, and the nurturing of domestic AI models.

Through these efforts, Tokyo aims to foster the creation of unicorns, attract global enterprises, and form a safe and open Web3/AI ecosystem.

9:45 – A Self-Sovereign Society Realized by Mirrored Body – AI × Web3

Speakers:

• Yuya Higuchi (Director of Biometrics & Vision AI Division / Web3 Thought Leader, NEC)
• Norikazu Miyagi (Head of DX Consulting Division / Outside Director, Sustainable Pavilion 2025 Co., Ltd. / MACNICA, Inc.)
• Masataka Kimura (CEO / Sustainable Pavilion 2025 Co., Ltd.)
• Yoichi Ochiai (Associate Professor at University of Tsukuba / Producer of Thematic Projects at Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai / Sustainable Pavilion 2025 Co., Ltd.)
• Aro Kondo (CEO & Co-Founder / THXNET.) Moderator: Yuya Higuchi

This session centered around the “Mirrored Body” concept featured at the signature pavilion “null2” of the Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai, and discussed a vision of a society where individuals regain sovereignty over their data through the fusion of AI and Web3. The digital avatars reflect users' health checkups, dietary records, and social media posts through changes in conversation and appearance, offering personalized life suggestions.

On the backend, identity and history are attributed to users through TX Lab’s dedicated L1 chain and SBTs, operating in a gasless manner. There are also plans for integration with MyNumber KYC and hardware wallets, aiming to deploy blockchain technology on a large scale without making users aware of its presence.

Advertising and services are mediated by AI agents under the user’s consent, marking a break away from traditional platforms that monopolize data. This initiative is framed as a proof-of-concept for a “self-sovereign society” where enterprises and individuals engage in loosely coupled value exchanges.

10:15 – The Future of Web3 Funds: New Investment Approaches and Capital Flows

Speakers:

• Tony Gu (Managing Partner / NGC Ventures)
• Akio Tanaka (Partner / Infinity Ventures Crypto)
• Yoann T. (Co-Founder / Wintermute)
• Takashi Hayashida (Managing Partner / Taisu Ventures)
• Ryo Umezawa (Head of New Business Development & Overseas M&A / Vector Inc.)
• Angela Tong (Chief Marketing Officer / Jsquare)
  Moderator: Angela Tong

Since the 2021 boom, the Web3 capital market has experienced a period of “Bitcoin leading while altcoins stagnate,” with VC funding and valuations shrinking from their peaks. There is a growing trend of funds becoming more selective, shifting towards a “flight to quality,” carefully assessing project quality and pricing.

Capital sources have polarized:
① Institutions returning with the approval of ETFs, focusing on BTC.
② Retail investors from platforms like Robinhood, concentrating on meme-based micro-tokens.

Asia, especially Japan with its progressing regulatory frameworks, is seen as the nucleus of the next market cycle. Practical use cases are being driven by the introduction of JPY-denominated stablecoin laws and participation from large corporations like SBI and MUFG.

Fundraising mechanisms are diversifying to include token-equity warrant hybrids, OTC deals post-listing, and swaps. Investors are emphasizing equity rights and long-term liquidity strategies, with less tolerance for tokenomics alone.

Decentralized identity and the combination of AI and crypto are emerging themes. Meanwhile, profitable companies and socially impactful projects are gaining traction, and partnerships and M&A with Japanese firms are on the rise.

The future of Web3 funds lies in guiding capital toward regulated infrastructures and building ecosystems that connect smart money and community capital across regions and sectors.

10:45 – Strategies and Challenges of Major Corporations for the Future of Web3

Speakers:

• Tomoya Akaishi (Section Head of Web3 Promotion / Product Marketing Manager, DX Planning Department / Sony Bank Inc.)
• Shumpei Tatabayashi (Head of Web3 Promotion Department / KDDI Corporation)
• Yasuhiro Sasaki (CIO & Executive Officer / Rakuten Wallet Inc.)
• Akira Masuzawa (Co-Director of Advanced Content Business (IoTv Center) / TV Asahi)
• Takumasa Murata (Head of Web3 Business Development / GREE, Inc.) Moderator: Akira Masuzawa

This session, titled “Strategies and Challenges of Major Corporations for the Future of Web3,” brought together companies including Sony Bank, KDDI, Rakuten Wallet, GREE, and TV Asahi to discuss their Web3 initiatives and associated challenges. The focus was not on recruitment but on “Adoption and Challenges,” i.e., the social implementation of Web3.

Sony Bank emphasized creating emotional value through IP utilization, launching NFT collaborations with artists and films. KDDI promoted its “αU” brand through an NFT marketplace, creator support, and region-revitalization NFTs. Rakuten Wallet launched a Web3 wallet for Rakuten members, enabling token purchases with points and linking with Oasys. GREE has been investing in tokens and operating a validator business via its Singapore branch, aiming to redefine content ownership using blockchain. TV Asahi is integrating Web3 into its media business through NFT tourism and global IP expansion.

Common challenges cited included lowering UX barriers, integrating with existing businesses, coordinating with legal and accounting departments, and leveraging stable revenue models like validators. A gritty determination, “guts and passion,” along with fan enthusiasm, was highlighted as key to monetizing Web3. These corporations are looking to bridge hundreds of millions of users from Web2 to Web3, targeting mass adoption.

11:15 – Web3 Security at the Forefront: Emerging Threats and Defense Strategies

Speakers:

• Roberto Daviduk (CEO & Co-Founder / PocketFi LLC)
• Jock Haslam (Director & Co-Founder / Hashlock)
• Kan Matsumoto (Senior Support Engineer / ClickHouse)
• Anjali Dubey (CMO / Pop Social)
• Louis (Co-founder of BBSNYC | Ex-Coinbase Tech Lead / BBSNYC)
• Maika Isokawa (Co-Founder / Webacy) Moderator: Louis

This session focused on the current state of Web3 security, emerging threats, and defense strategies. A key distinction was drawn between Web2 and Web3 security: in Web2, personal data is stolen first to access assets, while in Web3, assets are targeted directly via smart contracts. The instantaneous and irreversible nature of losses is the core risk.

Over the past year to 18 months, the evolution of AI-driven attack methods has become the greatest concern. Examples include using large language models to detect smart contract vulnerabilities, social engineering via DAO proposals, and impersonation by AI agents. On the defense side, advances in security tech and heightened auditing awareness have improved smart contract safety.

Many Web3 projects are still built atop Web2 infrastructure, highlighting the need for integrated threat analytics. Detecting zero-day attacks by AI benefits from correlating datasets from both Web2 and Web3.

Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) was praised for enforcing strict security measures and requiring projects to implement concrete security protocols. However, concerns were raised that high taxation may drive domestic developers overseas.

Overall, security must be integrated from the design phase, not treated as an afterthought. In Web3, where trust loss can be fatal, user education, external audits, and proper tool usage are key.

11:45 – From Japan to the World: The Future of Web3 Gaming by Oasys

Speaker: Ryo Matsubara (CEO / Oasys)

In this session, Ryo Matsubara, CEO of Oasys, discussed the evolution of Web3 gaming and Oasys’s strategy. As a blockchain specialized in gaming, Oasys, although a Japan-originated project, has been highly evaluated for bringing major global gaming companies like Sega, Bandai Namco, and Ubisoft as validators, and for involving Web2 game companies in Web3.

The Web3 gaming trend has shifted from NFT games, to gamification of finance via DeFi, and now to movements like “Pump.fun” that gamify even token creation through hyper-casual tap games. Matsubara noted that the next wave would be “token-centric games” leveraging unique Web3 UX, not mere extensions of traditional video games, but new forms of play native to Web3.

The company is also expanding into the RWA (real-world asset) space, tokenizing physical collectibles like Pokémon cards for trading and ownership on-chain. Furthermore, they launched “Yukichi.fun,” the Japanese version of Pump.fun, which has already spawned over 300 tokens.

Looking forward, Matsubara revealed plans to combine Japan-born creative mechanisms with popular IPs and broadcast new models of Web3 gaming to the world.

11:55 – Revolutionizing Healthcare: Reclaiming Ownership of Health Data through IoT + Blockchain + AI

Speaker: Aditya Tallapragada (Director & President / Interakt & AKT Health)

In this session, Aditya Tallapragada introduced the construction of an innovative ecosystem using IoT, blockchain, and AI that enables patients to reclaim ownership of their health data. Currently, most health data is managed by insurance companies or pharmaceutical firms, limiting individual control. His project tackles this by utilizing DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure), storing and managing health data obtained via IoT devices on a blockchain to ensure traceability and security.

Data is linked to individuals as dynamic NFTs, allowing it to be analyzed by AI and integrated into medical research and electronic medical records. Incentive mechanisms and gamification elements are incorporated to provide users with rewards, which are optimized based on the frequency and quality of collected data.

They are also developing wearable devices (ring-type) to work with medical institutions and potentially obtain approval from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, initially targeting the wellness sector.

The infrastructure does not use tokens and is based on enterprise-grade blockchains like Hyperledger. With an eye on global expansion, the project aims to reach 10,000 users in Japan by the end of 2024 and plans to sequentially launch its app and marketplace.

13:00 – The Future of Stablecoins in Japan and Their Global Competitiveness

Speakers:

• Ken Kodama (Group CEO / EMURGO)
• Kimio Mikitake (President / Osaka Digital Exchange Co., Ltd.)
• Yosuke Shiraishi (Co-Founder of Decima Fund / Vice Chairman of JCBA)
• Kentaro Nakamura (CEO / GMO-Z.com Trust Company, Inc.)
• Hideki Ikeda (Executive Officer CTO / SBI VC Trade)
• Gen Adachi (Director CFO / Netstars Co., Ltd.)
  Moderator: Yosuke Shiraishi

In this session titled “The Future of Stablecoins in Japan and Their Global Competitiveness,” executives from major firms discussed the domestic rollout and international trends of stablecoins. Japan entered its “Year One of Stablecoins” following the 2023 revision of the Payment Services Act, with SBI becoming the first to handle USDC domestically. However, aligning perspectives with the Financial Services Agency and designing systems took significant effort, and operational issues like a ¥1 million remittance limit remain.

Stablecoins are also being eyed as settlement tools for securities and tokenized real-world assets (RWA), with integration into traditional securities firm models and Web3 becoming key focus areas. In retail payments, their advantages are increasingly recognized in areas such as reduced merchant fees and support for inbound tourism.

Globally, regulation is progressing, particularly in the U.S., where a variety of models like reward-based and algorithmic stablecoins are rapidly expanding. Stablecoins are no longer just payment tools but are becoming foundational infrastructures encompassing finance, investment, and remittance.

In Japan, building actual use cases and developing an ecosystem with international competitiveness is now anticipated.

13:45 – The Era of RWAs: How Blockchain Is Transforming Real-World Assets

Speakers:

• Jacelynn Pang (Group Marketing & Institutional Sales Director / ChainUp)
• Phillip Pon (President / EMURGO)
• Julien Martin (CEO & Founder / Digital Climate Group)
• Joey Bertschler (CEO / Volante Labs)
• Philip DiSarro (Founder & CEO / Anastasia Labs)
  Moderator: Joey Bertschler

This session explored how blockchain is transforming Real World Assets (RWAs), which refers to tokenizing tangible assets such as real estate, gold, and salaries to enable faster and more efficient trading. The growing attention to RWAs stems from the technological and institutional maturity of three key elements: custody, composability, and compliance.

In recent years, practical use cases have emerged—such as the tokenization of green bonds and oil—for accelerating capital raising. RWAs help increase liquidity, improve yield opportunities, and democratize access to financial services, offering new alternatives to traditional financial markets.

However, challenges remain, including underdeveloped regulations and insurance systems, as well as low penetration among general users. Ultimately, the key lies in creating experiences where users can enjoy the benefits of blockchain technology without being conscious of it. As with stablecoins, seamless integration into daily life is expected to be the catalyst for RWA adoption.

14:15 – Coexistence Strategy of Web2 and Web3: A Hybrid Approach for Enterprises

Speakers:

• Kensuke Amou (CEO / Animoca Brands Japan)
• Junya Hirano (Entrepreneur, Investor & Co-Founder / HashHub Inc.)
• Hidetoshi Takano (Entrepreneur / AGENT SEVEN)
• Susumu Niizuma (Business Development Director / Alibaba Cloud)
• Tomoyuki Hisanaga (Country Manager / The Sandbox Japan)
  Moderator: Hidetoshi Takano

This session examined how existing Web2 services can be integrated with Web3 technologies, with speakers sharing real-world examples. Kensuke Amou of Animoca Brands Japan discussed the company’s efforts to expand Japanese IP globally and their advisory services to assist companies in entering the Web3 space, including support in token design and validator operations.

Junya Hirano from HashHub reflected on the challenges seen in early NFT and DeFi deployments, noting a recent shift back toward blockchain’s role as a financial infrastructure. He emphasized how companies are now focusing more on utility and practical use cases behind the “Web3” trend.

Susumu Niizuma from Alibaba Cloud asserted that it’s not necessary to forcibly transition Web2 services to Web3. Instead, he advocated for a pragmatic approach based on their company’s R&D capabilities and implementation experience.

Tomoyuki Hisanaga of The Sandbox Japan stressed the importance of allowing users to transition naturally from Web2 to Web3 experiences. He shared data showing that most new users are Web3 beginners, underlining the effectiveness of a phased introduction.

Overall, the session concluded that instead of viewing Web2 and Web3 as opposing forces, a “hybrid strategy” leveraging the strengths of both presents a realistic and effective approach.

14:45 – The Future of Real-Time Digital Forensics in an Era of Diverse Devices

Speaker: Hiroyuki Maruyama (Founder & CEO / Susteen, CIO / Datapilot)

In this session, Hiroyuki Maruyama, drawing from his experience in BIOS development, discussed the importance of “flex computing” that can be applied flexibly across various use cases. He pointed out that current computers and AI lack imagination and intuitive judgment like humans.

Maruyama emphasized that truly valuable software emerges not from memorization or imitation but from the power to create the future through imagination. He stated that imagination is the driving force that changes society and moves the world.

15:00 – The Intersection of Global Affairs and Technology: The Geopolitical Impact of Web3 and AI

Speakers:

• Hideto Kawasaki (Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications / Liberal Democratic Party)
• Toru Hashimoto (Former Governor of Osaka Prefecture / Former Mayor of Osaka City)
• Takafumi Horie (Entrepreneur / SNS Media & Consulting Inc.)
• Hironao Kunimitsu (CEO / Financie Inc.)
• Yuta Misaki (Entrepreneur, Influencer)
  Moderator: Hironao Kunimitsu

This session focused on how technologies like Web3 and AI are impacting geopolitics, politics, and societal systems. Key discussion points included using blockchain to enhance transparency in political funding, automating subsidies and decision-making through smart contracts, and reconstructing local governance through DAOs.

Former Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto highlighted the potential of Web3 in political and administrative applications such as escrow services and replacing legislative functions. Vice-Minister Kawasaki presented updates on policy reforms and tax revisions under the LDP’s Web3 project team, indicating that separate taxation for cryptocurrencies may be implemented as early as next year.

Speakers noted that a lack of understanding among politicians and the complexity of institutional design are major barriers to adoption. The importance of public endorsement for Web3 policies was also emphasized.

Additionally, ideas such as political token issuance and fundraising through tokens were discussed as new forms of political participation and economic policy.

The session concluded with a shared understanding that Web3 represents not just a technological trend, but a key to systemic transformation of society.

16:00 – Japan’s Position and Policy Support in the Global Web3 and AI Competition

Speakers:

• Yuichiro Tamaki (Representative of the Democratic Party for the People / Member of the House of Representatives)
• Genki Oda (Chairman / Japan Virtual and Crypto Assets Exchange Association - JVCEA)
• Yusuke Shitara (Editor-in-Chief / Astarashi Economy)
  Moderator: Yusuke Shitara

In this session, Japan’s current state and future policy prospects in the Web3 and AI space were discussed from multiple angles. Yuichiro Tamaki of the Democratic Party for the People emphasized integrating Web3, crypto assets, and AI into national strategy, advocating for flexible, experimental policies such as DAO-style political party management.

He stressed the necessity of three major legislative reforms: shifting to a 20% separate taxation for crypto assets, easing leverage regulations, and legalizing Bitcoin ETFs.

Genki Oda of JVCEA pointed out that although Japan once accounted for half of the world’s crypto trading volume, that share has now dropped to below 1%. He attributed this decline to tax regulations and slow listing reviews, which have led to capital and talent flowing overseas. He argued that delays in institutional reform are causing economic losses.

Oda also stressed that to realize new policies, not only must laws be passed quickly, but implementation systems must be established in parallel. There was a shared recognition that Web3 is not just a tech trend, but a vital societal infrastructure directly tied to national competitiveness.

16:45 – The Future of the Global Market Pioneered by Web3 and AI

Speakers:

• Michimasa Naka (President & CEO / Boardwalk Capital Inc.)
• Jay Zhao (Founder & General Partner / Leonis Capital)
• Yuji Kumagai (Chief Operating Officer / Startale Group)
• Malik Bu Essah (Chief Operating Officer / EXCEED Real Estate)
• Fawzi Hamze (Founder & CEO / Assets Advisors Holding)
  Moderator: Michimasa Naka

This session gathered multinational entrepreneurs and investors to discuss how Web3 and AI are transforming the global market. Jay Zhao of Leonis Capital, a firm with ties to OpenAI and Anthropic, stated that AI gives humanity the ability to understand and utilize unstructured data, predicting massive value creation over the next 5–10 years.

Web3, in contrast, was described as a technology that records structured data on public ledgers, forming the foundation for decentralized economic systems. Yuji Kumagai of Startale highlighted how Web3 is impacting the entertainment industry, enabling user-participatory ID design and token rewards that are reshaping the relationship between fans and creators.

From Dubai, real-world case studies in crypto real estate were shared, including the ability to instantly purchase property with cryptocurrency and active government support for such initiatives.

Despite differing characteristics, both AI and Web3 are advancing as technologies that will provide new infrastructure and value for human society. This was a key takeaway from the session.

17:15 – TEAMZ Summit 2025 Lottery

A lottery was held among attendees, with Bitcoin as the prize.

17:30 – TEAMZ Summit 2025 Closing & Announcement of TEAMZ Summit 2026

Speaker: Tianyu Yang (CEO / TEAMZ)

To close out the two-day TEAMZ Summit 2025, CEO Tianyu Yang expressed his gratitude, thanking attendees, sponsors, and partners. He reflected on the importance of discussing and experiencing how Japanese culture and intangible software technologies such as Web3 and AI intersect with daily life.

He announced that the next TEAMZ Summit 2026 will be held on April 15–16, 2026. The goal will be to share and allow global and local attendees to experience the essence and uniqueness of Japanese culture. He closed by inviting everyone to reunite again next year.