Japan's Web3 boom heats up: institutional entry, policy shifts, and rising calls for "crypto ETFization"—TEAMZ Web3 / AI SUMMIT 2026 officially announces heavyweight political guests, with all sponsorship seats sold out

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Entering 2026, Japan’s Web3 industry is ushering in a new acceleration phase: on one hand, traditional financial institutions such as banks, securities firms, and trusts continue to expand their presence, from RWA and security tokens to 24/7 tokenized trading platforms, with institutional entry shifting from “testing waters” to “systematic promotion.”

On the other hand, the Japanese government has issued clearer support signals. Recently, Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama publicly stated support for introducing crypto asset trading mechanisms into traditional markets such as stock exchanges and commodity exchanges, referencing the US crypto ETF to promote digital assets like BTC and ETH to “legally enter mainstream investment channels.”

Meanwhile, Japan’s crypto tax reform is accelerating: multiple media reports indicate that Japan plans to reduce the current maximum crypto asset income tax rate of 55% to around 20%, similar to stocks, and introduce a more comprehensive regulatory framework and investor protection mechanisms, further unleashing innovation space.

On the corporate side, “DAT (Digital Asset Treasury)” has become a new trend—more and more companies are attempting to include digital assets in their balance sheets, as reserves or part of financial strategies, driving market enthusiasm to continue rising.

On the community side, the number of Web3 developers, researchers, and entrepreneurial communities is steadily growing. The industry is gradually shifting from speculative trading to “application landing and commercialization,” with Japan forming a more mature ecosystem network.

Against this macro backdrop, Japan’s largest Web3 and AI technology summit—the TEAMZ Web3 / AI SUMMIT 2026—has officially announced the latest developments: Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and Democratic Party of Japan leader Yuichiro Tamaki confirmed to attend, with the first wave of luxury guest lineups announced; meanwhile, all 10 top-tier “Title Sponsor” seats have been sold out, with industry leaders gathering in Tokyo.

Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and Representative Yuichiro Tamaki Confirmed to Attend, Elevating the Political Attention of TEAMZ SUMMIT 2026

The organizers announced that Satsuki Katayama (Finance Minister / Minister of Financial Services) will attend TEAMZ Summit 2026 and deliver a speech. Minister Katayama has long focused on financial system reform and industrial restructuring. In the current context of Japan accelerating digital asset and financial innovation, her participation is seen as an important signal of “policy and industry further dialogue.”

At the same time, Democratic Party of Japan leader and House of Representatives member Yuichiro Tamaki has also confirmed his attendance. Mr. Tamaki previously served at Japan’s Ministry of Finance (formerly the Ministry of Finance), and has extensive administrative experience at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Financial Services Agency, and Osaka National Tax Agency. He holds significant influence on topics such as “digital finance, industrial policy, and international competition.”

Web3 × AI Full Expansion: From “Crypto” to “Next-Generation Industry Infrastructure”

TEAMZ SUMMIT has always been an important platform connecting global Web3 industry resources. In 2026, the conference will undergo a significant upgrade: not only continuing to cover core Web3 topics but also focusing on the AI (Artificial Intelligence) field, bringing the intersection of “on-chain economy” and “smart revolution” to the forefront.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Tradition Meets Tomorrow.” For the first time, the event will be held at the historic Japanese garden—Happo-en, which has a history of 400 years. The organizers stated that in this traditional space filled with Eastern aesthetics and ceremonial atmosphere, they will showcase cutting-edge technologies integrating “blockchain and AI,” allowing attendees to experience the real-world application of future technologies in a setting different from traditional conference centers.

First Wave of Luxury Guest Lineup Announced: Top Web3 and AI Leaders Gather in Tokyo

In addition to two heavyweight political guests, the conference also announced several influential international and Japanese guests, including but not limited to:

● Subash (Tether), Michael Terpin (Transform Ventures), Kongo Su ( Matsuo Research Institute )

● Nick DiSisto (Trust Wallet), Takatoshi Shibayama (Ledger)

● Gengi Oda (JVCEA), Sota Watanabe (Startale Group), Tomohiko Kondo (SBI VC Trade)

● Ken Kodama (EMURGO), Mai Furukawa (XRPL Japan), Hiroaki Kunimitsu (Financier Co., Ltd.)

● Vineet Budki (Sigma Capital), Ken Kawai (Anderson Mori & Tomotsune)

● Dr. Salim (Maidaan AI), Tatsuya Saito (Progmat), Sō Saitō (Sō & Sato Law Office)

● Marc Piano (Horizons Global), Anand Iyer (Canonical)

and other top industry leaders from around the world and Japan, covering key tracks in Web3 and AI.

All 10 Sponsorship Seats Sold Out: Industry Leaders Including XRP, Cardano, SBI VCT, Startale, EMURGO Participating

The organizers also announced that all 10 seats for the most core sponsorship level—Title Sponsor—have been sold out in advance. Major global industry players such as XRP, Cardano, SBI VCT, Startale, EMURGO, AAC, and Envo have confirmed to become top-tier partners of the 2026 TEAMZ SUMMIT.

In addition, more sponsorship and exhibition collaborations are ongoing. Web3/AI companies from around the world will gather at Happo-en in Tokyo to showcase the latest technologies, ecological collaborations, and global partnership building.

For information about sponsoring companies, please refer to the official website.

100+ Media and Community Partners to Distribute Conference Content in Real-Time Globally

TEAMZ SUMMIT 2026 has over 100 media partners, community partners, VC partners, and supporting organizations, forming a powerful global dissemination network. On-site releases and discussions will be broadcast in real-time through media and vertical communities across multiple countries, enhancing global exposure and business matching efficiency 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 other mainstream industry media.

Community partners include: PALacademy, Akindo, Hakuhodo Key3, Progmat, Shibuya Web3 University, CIC Tokyo, Tokyo Fintech, and others.

VC and investment organization partners are also expanding, including: Draper Associates, Dragonfly, Blockchain Capital, Wintermute, Hyperithm, NGC Ventures, SevenX Ventures, and more international capital participation.

For details about media partners, community partners, VC partners, and supporting organizations, please visit the official website.

Japan’s Three Major Industry Associations Confirm Support: JCBA, JVCEA, JBA for Two Consecutive Years

The conference also confirmed that Japan’s three representative organizations in the Web3 and crypto asset industry:

● Japan Crypto Asset Business Association (JCBA)

● Japan Crypto Asset Trading Industry Association (JVCEA)

● Japan Blockchain Association (JBA)

will continue to provide support for TEAMZ Web3 / AI SUMMIT 2026, offering stronger endorsement for the professionalism, compliance, and industry influence of the event.

TEAMZ Web3 / AI SUMMIT 2026 Conference Information (Official)

● Date: April 7 (Tue) – April 8 (Wed), 2026

● Location: Happo-en (Shirokane-takanawa, Minato City, Tokyo)

● Theme: Tradition Meets Tomorrow

● Number of Guests: 130+

● Expected Attendees: 10,000+

● Official Website:

● Ticket Page: en/tickets-list-2026

About TEAMZ

TEAMZ is a global accelerator focused on Web3 and AI. Through summits, marketing, corporate collaborations, and ecosystem connections, it promotes the development of Japan’s innovative ecosystem. Its flagship event, the TEAMZ Web3 / AI Summit, attracts participants from over 50 countries and regions annually, connecting entrepreneurs, investors, enterprises, and government agencies to create a globalized business cooperation platform.