One of the largest Web3 and AI summits in Asia——TEAMZ Summit 2026, officially opened on April 7, 2026, at Happoen in Tokyo.

This summit is themed “Tradition Meets Tomorrow”, held at Happoen, which carries historical and cultural connotations, to create a unique event that integrates the traditional spirit of Japan with cutting-edge technological innovation.

TEAMZ Summit 2026 Main Venue

Registration opened at 9 AM, and from LB to outside the venue, many attendees lined up in an orderly fashion, reflecting the high anticipation from various sectors for this year’s summit.

Day 1 Entrance Reception

This year’s venue is divided by floors that feature different themes, creating a rich, immersive experience for participants with diverse content.

The venue includes Main Stage, exhibition area, interview area, networking zone, Side Event area, VIP Lounge, Terrace Bar, Terrace Cafe, commemorative photo area, Terrace DJ area, and lunch area, among other enriching settings. Additionally, the scene showcased various content sponsored by Title, including bonsai decorations, kimono experiences, Dassai Happy Hour, sumo performances, and traditional Japanese street performances, allowing technology and culture to splendidly intersect in the same space.

Notably, 1F Terrace, 2F, and 3F areas conducted a proof of concept (PoC) on the practical use of stablecoins. This initiative allowed attendees to personally experience real-world applications of Web3 payments, becoming one of the highlights of the event.

The night before the summit on April 6, TEAMZ invited over 200 VIP guests to attend the “VIP Welcome Dinner”. Guests had high-quality exchanges accompanied by exquisite dining and fine wine, spending a special time that embodied both style and value.

Furthermore, from April 7 to 8, this area continued to serve as a VIP Lounge, providing VIP guests with an exclusive space that integrates relaxation, socializing, discussions, and unwinding.

1F: Main Stage, Title Sponsor Exhibition Area, Interview Area

2F: Platinum / Gold / Silver Sponsor Exhibition Area, Media Room

2F Terrace: Coffee and Tea Break Area

3F: Lunch Area, Side Event Area, Networking Space

5F: XRP Tokyo Main Stage

6F: XRP Tokyo Exhibition

1F Terrace: TEAMZ Bar, Sponsor Company Banner Displays, Binance Japan Commemorative Photo Frame; alongside sumo performances, traditional street performances, Dassai Happy Hour, and Terrace DJ, bringing more interactive and rhythmic experiences to the scene.

VIP Welcome Dinner

VIP Lounge, Commemorative Photo Area, and bonsai art decorations presented by Title sponsors

Kicking Off the Event with Japanese Cultural Performances

The opening performance was presented by ORIENTARHYTHM, with the core concept of “transmitting the beauty and coolness of Japan to the world”, igniting the audience with a powerful and captivating stage presence.

ORIENTARHYTHM

Tokyo New Nonki Ren brought an Awa Odori performance that further escalated the atmosphere, immersing the entire audience in a lively traditional rhythm.

Keynote and Key Agenda Highlights

Day 1 focused on multiple core topics around Web3, AI, finance, regulation, and investment, showcasing high-level discussions reflecting industry trends and a global perspective.

Keynote: Opening Speech of TEAMZ SUMMIT 2026

Minister of Finance Satsuki Katayama

Fireside: AI × Blockchain

An in-depth discussion on the new value creation brought by the integration of AI and blockchain, and the key pathways to drive it toward practical applications.

CEO of bitFlyer Yumiko Kana / CPO of bitFlyer Aki Kanemitsu Keynote: The Potential of XRPL in Japan and the Key Role of the Community

This speech focuses on the core value of the community in ecosystem development and analyzes XRPL's growth potential and future opportunities in the Japanese market.

Co-Founder of XRPL Japan Mai Furukawa

Keynote: Integration Strategy—The New Generation of Digital Banks at the Intersection of Crypto Assets, AI, and Fintech

Demonstrating the new possibilities for future financial service models through the integration of new digital banks and Web3.

CEO Phillip Pon from EMURGO Fireside: null²ⁿ x null⁴

Media artist Yoichi Ochiai (Representative Director of the General Incorporated Association "Computer and Nature") launched two new projects derived from the iconic pavilion “null²” at the Osaka-Kansai Expo on April 7.

The first project is a permanent theater “null²ⁿ”, expected to open in 2026 at Yokohama's Landmark Tower; the second project is a new work “null⁴”, set to debut in March 2027 at GREEN×EXPO 2027 (2027 International Horticultural Expo).

Guest Speakers:

Yoichi Ochiai (Media Artist)

Kyoko Miyagi (Macnica, Inc., General Manager of DX Consulting Division) Panel: Traditional Finance and Future Finance

This forum explores the deep integration of traditional financial systems and digital assets, discussing how the new and old financial orders can resonate through regulation, institutional participation, and market innovation.

Guest Speakers:

Gaku Yamada | Head of Japanese Business for Institutional Investor Trading at FLOW TRADERS

Naoto Shimoda | Head of Digital Strategy at Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group / Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

Yuki Tanaka | Head of Global Markets at BlackRock

Eiki Mitsuzuka | Executive Officer and COO at Webull Securities (Moderator)

Fireside: AI × Web3: Restructuring Future Society—Vision and Reality

Guest Speakers:

Yusuke Narita | Economist

Koji Chino | Representative Director of Binance Japan (Moderator)

Panel: The Future of Web3 Payments—How Stablecoins Reshape a Cashless Society

This forum unveiled the payment gateway concept “StarPay-X” that connects Web2 and Web3, showcasing the new possibilities for stablecoin-driven payment system upgrades and scenario implementations.

Guest Speakers:

Gang Li | CEO of NetStars Co., Ltd.

Kenta Sakakibara | Country Manager of Circle

Shigeru Sato | Co-Representative of Solana Superteam Japan

Takashi Tezuka | CEO of Startale Japan

Keita Sekiguchi | Deputy Chief Editor of NIKKEI Financial (Moderator)

Afternoon Session: Social Implementation and Global Expansion

Keynote: LDP's AI / Web3 Strategy

A deep look into the social changes brought by AI and Web3, exploring the role Japan should undertake and the future direction and national strategic priorities.

Hidekazu Kawasaki | Minister of Digital Affairs

Panel: CBDC × Private Stablecoins—The Next Generation Currency Landscape as Envisioned by Japan

This forum discussed the construction of next-generation currency systems, exploring the collaborative potential between CBDCs and private stablecoins in terms of institutional design, application scenarios, and financial infrastructure.

Junichiro Kurabe | Digital Currency Planning Officer at the Ministry of Finance

Noritaka Okabe | Representative Director of JPYC Co., Ltd.

Tatsuya Saito | Co-founder and CEO of Progmat

Hiroki Akahoshi | Partner at Deloitte Tohmatsu LLC (Moderator)

Panel: Post-Smartphone Era—How AI Agents Reshape Human-Computer Interaction

This discussion focused on the evolution of user experience in the post-smartphone era, presenting new imaginations of AI Agents in terms of interaction methods, terminal forms, and digital entry points.

Will Wang | Founder & CEO of Even Realities

Jay Zhao | Founder & General Partner of Leonis Capital

Shawn Tan | General Partner of Trive Digital

Ann Chien | Partner at IVC

Terence Ng | Lenovo GM, Head of Software & Managed Services (Moderator)

Keynote: Connecting Japan and GCC—A New Chapter for Institutional Capital in the Web3 Era

This speech focused on the new capital flows forming between Japan and the Middle East, analyzing the new trends in institutional investor capital movement against the backdrop of Web3.

Fawzi Hamze | Founder & Chairman of AAC

Keynote: Decentralized Identity and Privacy—The New Standards for Next-Generation Socializing

This talk proposed new standards regarding identity, privacy, and trust mechanisms in the next-generation social ecosystem, showcasing the direction of social infrastructure in the decentralized era.

Raul Velazquez | Chief Content & Media Officer of ENVO

Panel: Building Trust in the Digital Asset Market—Regulation, Institutional Investors, and the Next Decade

This forum discussed the role of regulatory frameworks and institutional capital, exploring the key factors promoting the long-term healthy development of the digital asset market.

Ken Kawai | Partner at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

Benjamin Tsai | Co-founder & President of Wave Digital Assets

Marc Piano | Partner at HORIZONS GLOBAL

Hirofumi Saito | Representative Lawyer at Sō Sato Law Office

Robert Frenchman | Partner at DYNAMIS LLP (Moderator)

Fireside: Japan’s Web3 Restart—Real Strategies from Entrepreneurs and Investors

This discussion focused on the real judgments and practical strategies of entrepreneurs and investors in the current market environment, presenting the key path for the restart of Japan’s Web3 ecosystem.

Takahumi Horie | Entrepreneur

Hironaka Kunimitsu | CEO of FiNANCiE Co., Ltd.

Panel: DID / VC × AI Agent Opening the Next Generation Digital Identity

This forum discussed the integration of decentralized identity, verifiable credentials, and AI Agents, exploring the construction logic and application prospects of the next-generation digital identity system.

Takahiro Fujii | Executive Officer, Head of Digital Strategy, and Chief AI Officer at Mizuho Financial Group

Shunpei Tateno | Deputy General Manager of Open Innovation Promotion Headquarters at KDDI Corporation

Kantaro Fujimori | CEO/Founder of VESS Labs

Yuya Higuchi | Director of NEC’s Biometrics and Vision AI Division, also a web3 Thought Leader (Moderator)

Panel: Building in a Bear Market—New Strategies for Web3 Investment

This discussion focused on investment logic during market adjustments, exploring methodologies for identifying value, allocating capital, and building long-term competitiveness in a bear market.

Vineet Budki | CEO of sigma capital

James Wo | Founder and CEO of DFG

Tobias Bauer | GP and Co-founder of TBV

Kisuke Abe | CSO of HYPERITHM

Renee Francis | Founder and Director of TAKE 3 (Moderator)

Panel: Talent Strategy in the Age of Web3 and AI—Collaboration among Education, Industry, and Nation

This forum focused on future talent cultivation mechanisms, exploring how to establish a more efficient linkage among the education system, industry demand, and national strategy.

Dr. Joe Hüg | TEDxInnovationU Lead Organizer & Licensee

Gary Surdam | Entrepreneur

John Fung | CMO of AVATAR48

Steve Ngok | CSO of DORA FACTORY

Kangyong Sun | Associate Professor at Hitotsubashi University (Moderator)

Panel: Where Will the Crypto Asset Market Go in 2026?

Tomo Hasegawa | Market Analyst at bitbank

Virtual Nishi | Crypto Asset Analyst

Gennki Oda | President of Japan Virtual and Crypto Assets Exchange Association (JVCEA)

Shinron Matsushima | Crypto Asset Analyst at Monex Securities

hajimex | Representative Director of Shibuya Web3 University

Keynote: What is Trust in the Decentralized Era—The Mission of Layer1 in 2026

This speech discussed the key to rebuilding trust mechanisms in the decentralized era from an infrastructure perspective, emphasizing Layer1's core mission in the future ecosystem.

Charles Hoskinson | CEO and Founder of INPUT OUTPUT

Day 1 Summary

From the Awa Odori to sumo performances, from diverse exhibition areas to immersive content experiences, the entire venue was filled with high energy from start to finish. TEAMZ Summit 2026 not only gathered the cutting-edge topics of Web3 and AI but also created a unique on-site atmosphere exclusive to TEAMZ through a deep integration with Japanese culture, bringing new inspiration and connections to many attendees.

This day truly embodied the spirit core of “Tradition Meets Tomorrow.”