TEAMZ Summit 2026 Opens
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TEAMZ Summit 2026 Opens
The TEAMZ Summit 2026 not only brings together cutting-edge topics at the intersection of Web3 and AI but also creates a uniquely TEAMZ on-site atmosphere through deep integration with Japanese culture—offering attendees fresh inspiration and meaningful connections.
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insightsOne of Asia’s largest Web3 and AI summits—TEAMZ Summit 2026—officially opened on April 7, 2026, at Yoko-en Garden in Tokyo.
This year’s summit, themed “Tradition Meets Tomorrow,” was held at the historic and culturally rich Yoko-en Garden, creating a unique event that seamlessly blends Japan’s traditional spirit with cutting-edge technological innovation.
Main venue of TEAMZ Summit 2026
Check-in opened at 9 a.m. Visitors queued in orderly fashion—from the lobby (LB) to outside the venue—demonstrating strong anticipation for the summit across industries.
Day 1 entrance reception area
The venue was organized by floor, each dedicated to a distinct theme, delivering a layered, diverse, and immersive experience for attendees.
Facilities included the Main Stage, exhibition zones, interview areas, networking spaces, Side Event zones, VIP Lounge, Terrace Bar, Terrace Café, commemorative photo booths, Terrace DJ zone, and lunch areas. Additionally, onsite highlights sponsored by the Title Sponsor included bonsai displays, kimono experiences, “Dassai Happy Hour,” sumo performances, and traditional Japanese street performing arts—creating dynamic intersections between technology and culture.
Notably, a live Proof-of-Concept (PoC) for real-world stablecoin usage was conducted simultaneously across the 1F Terrace, 2F, and 3F zones. This initiative enabled attendees to directly experience real-life Web3 payment applications—making it one of the most talked-about highlights on site.
On the eve of the summit—April 6—TEAMZ hosted a “VIP Welcome Dinner” for over 200 VIP guests. Amid refined cuisine and fine wines, high-quality conversations unfolded, offering an elegant and value-driven experience.
Additionally, from April 7–8, this space operated continuously as the VIP Lounge, providing VIP guests with an exclusive environment for rest, networking, business discussions, and relaxation.
1F: Main Stage, Title Sponsor exhibition zone, interview area
2F: Platinum / Gold / Silver sponsor exhibition zones, media room
2F Terrace: Coffee & refreshment area
3F: Lunch area, Side Event zone, networking space
5F: XRP Tokyo Main Stage
6F: XRP Tokyo Exhibition
1F Terrace: TEAMZ Bar, sponsor flag displays, Binance Japan commemorative photo frame; plus sumo performances, traditional street performing arts, Dassai Happy Hour, and Terrace DJ—adding interactivity and rhythm to the experience.
VIP welcome dinner
VIP Lounge, commemorative photo booth, and bonsai art installations sponsored by the Title Sponsor
Opening Ceremony Featuring Japanese Cultural Performances
The opening performance was delivered by ORIENTARHYTHM, embodying its core mission: “Sharing the beauty and coolness of Japan with the world.” Its powerful, captivating stage presence ignited the entire venue.
ORIENTARHYTHM
In the afternoon, the Tokyo Shin Nonki Ren group brought an energetic Awa Odori dance performance, elevating audience engagement and immersing everyone in the vibrant, tradition-infused rhythms.
Keynote & Highlight Sessions
Day 1 covered core topics including Web3, AI, finance, regulation, and investment—with high-caliber discussions showcasing industry frontiers and global perspectives.
Keynote: Opening Address, TEAMZ SUMMIT 2026
Minister of Finance, Satsuki Katayama
Fireside Chat: AI × Blockchain
An in-depth discussion on new value creation emerging from AI and blockchain convergence—and the critical pathways toward real-world implementation.
Yuji Kano, Representative Director & CEO, bitFlyer Inc. / Aoi Kinmichi, Executive Officer & Chief Product Officer, bitFlyer Inc.Keynote: XRPL’s Potential in Japan and the Critical Role of Community
This session highlighted the central role of community in ecosystem development, analyzing XRPL’s growth potential and future opportunities in the Japanese market.
Mai Furukawa, Co-Founder, XRPL Japan
Keynote: Integration Strategy—Next-Generation Digital Banking at the Intersection of Crypto Assets, AI, and FinTech
Demonstrating the future of financial services through the integration of next-gen digital banking and Web3.
Phillip Pon, CEO, EMURGOFireside Chat: null²ⁿ x null⁴
Media artist Yoichi Ohno (Representative Director, General Incorporated Association “Computers and Nature”) unveiled two new projects derived from the iconic “null²” pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo on April 7.
The first project is the permanent theater “null²ⁿ,” scheduled to open in 2026 at Yokohama Minato Mirai Landmark Tower; the second is the new work “null⁴,” set to debut in March 2027 at GREEN×EXPO 2027 (the 2027 International Horticultural Exposition).
Speakers:
Yoichi Ohno (Media Artist)
Miyagi Norikazu (Macnica Inc., Head of DX Consulting Division)Panel: Traditional Finance vs. Future Finance
This forum explored deep integration between traditional finance systems and digital assets, examining how old and new financial orders can resonate through regulation, institutional participation, and market innovation.
Speakers:
Takaki Yamada | Head of Institutional Investor Trading, Japan, FLOW TRADERS
Naoto Shimoda | Head of Digital Strategy, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group / Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Isao Tanaka | Managing Director, BlackRock Global Markets
Hideo Mitsuura | Executive Officer & COO, Webull Securities (Moderator)
Fireside Chat: AI × Web3: Reconstructing Society’s Future—Vision and Reality
Speakers:
Yusuke Narita | Economist
Goji Chino | Representative Director, Binance Japan (Moderator)
Panel: The Future of Web3 Payments—How Stablecoins Are Reshaping a Cashless Society
This panel introduced “StarPay-X”—a conceptual gateway bridging Web2 and Web3 payments—highlighting new possibilities for stablecoin-driven upgrades to payment infrastructure and real-world use cases.
Speakers:
Gang Li | Representative Director & CEO, NetStars Inc.
Kenta Sakakibara | Country Manager, Circle
Shigeru Sato | Co-Representative, Solana Superteam Japan
Takashi Tezuka | CEO, Startale Japan
Keita Sekiguchi | Deputy Editor-in-Chief, NIKKEI Financial (Moderator)
Afternoon Sessions: Real-World Implementation & Global Expansion
Keynote: The LDP’s AI / Web3 Strategy
A deep exploration of societal transformation driven by AI and Web3, outlining Japan’s anticipated role, future direction, and national strategic priorities.
Hideto Kawasaki | Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Digital Affairs
Panel: CBDC × Private Stablecoins—Japan’s Vision for the Next-Generation Monetary System
This forum addressed the construction of next-generation monetary systems, exploring synergies between CBDCs and private stablecoins across regulatory design, use cases, and financial infrastructure.
Junichiro Habekawa | Digital Currency Planning Officer, Treasury Department, Ministry of Finance
Noritaka Okabe | Representative Director, JPYC Inc.
Tatsuya Saito | Representative Director & Founder & CEO, Progmat
Hiroki Akahoshi | Partner, Deloitte Tohmatsu LLC (Moderator)
Panel: The Post-Smartphone Era—How AI Agents Are Redefining Human-Computer Interaction
This discussion focused on evolving user experiences in the post-smartphone era, presenting fresh visions for AI Agents across interaction paradigms, device form factors, and digital entry points.
Will Wang | Founder & CEO, Even Realities
Jay Zhao | Founder & General Partner, Leonis Capital
Shawn Tan | General Partner, Trive Digital
Ann Chien | Partner, IVC
Terence Ng | GM, Lenovo; Head of Software & Managed Services (Moderator)
Keynote: Connecting Japan and the GCC—A New Chapter for Institutional Capital in the Web3 Era
This talk spotlighted emerging capital channels between Japan and the Middle East, analyzing new trends in institutional investor capital flows under Web3.
Fawzi Hamze | Founder & Chairman, AAC
Keynote: Decentralized Identity & Privacy—The New Standard for Next-Gen Social Infrastructure
This keynote proposed new standards for identity, privacy, and trust mechanisms in next-generation social ecosystems—charting the course for decentralized social infrastructure.
Raul Velazquez | Chief Content & Media Officer, ENVO
Panel: Building Trust in Digital Asset Markets—Regulation, Institutional Investors, and the Next Decade
This forum examined regulatory frameworks and institutional capital roles, identifying key elements for long-term, sustainable growth in digital asset markets.
Takeshi Kawai | Partner, Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Benjamin Tsai | Co-Founder & President, Wave Digital Assets
Marc Piano | Partner, HORIZONS GLOBAL
Hajime Saito | Founding Attorney, So & Sato Law Offices
Robert Frenchman | Partner, DYNAMIS LLP (Moderator)
Fireside Chat: Restarting Japan’s Web3 Ecosystem—Real Strategies from Founders and Investors
This dialogue centered on founders’ and investors’ grounded assessments and practical strategies in today’s market—revealing key pathways for revitalizing Japan’s Web3 ecosystem.
Takahiro Horie | Entrepreneur
Hirotaka Kunimitsu | Representative Director & CEO, FiNANCiE Inc.
Panel: DID / VC × AI Agent—Launching the Next Generation of Digital Identity
This forum explored the convergence of decentralized identity (DID), verifiable credentials (VC), and AI Agents—discussing the architecture and application prospects of next-generation digital identity systems.
Toshinari Fujii | Executive Officer & Head of Digital Strategy & Chief AI Officer, Mizuho Financial Group
Shunpei Tatemori | Deputy General Manager, Open Innovation Promotion Division, KDDI Corporation
Kantarou Fujimori | CEO & Founder, VESS Labs
Yuya Higuchi | Director, Biometrics & Vision AI Division, NEC; Web3 Thought Leader (Moderator)
Panel: Building Through Bear Markets—New Web3 Investment Strategies
This discussion focused on investment logic during market corrections, exploring methodologies for identifying value, allocating capital, and building long-term competitiveness in bear market conditions.
Vineet Budki | CEO, sigma capital
James Wo | Founder & CEO, DFG
Tobias Bauer | GP & Co-Founder, TBV
Kiichi Abe | CSO, HYPERITHM
Renee Francis | Founder & Director, TAKE 3 (Moderator)
Panel: Talent Strategy in the Web3 & AI Era—Synchronizing Education, Industry, and National Policy
This forum addressed future talent development mechanisms—examining how education systems, industrial needs, and national strategies can establish more effective synergies.
Dr. Joe Hüg | Lead Organizer & Licensee, TEDxInnovationU
Gary Surdam | Entrepreneur
John Fung | CMO, AVATAR48
Steve Ngok | CSO, DORA FACTORY
Kangyong Sun | Associate Professor, Graduate School of Commerce and Management, Hitotsubashi University (Moderator)
Panel: Where Is the Crypto Market Heading in 2026?
Tomoya Hasegawa | Market Analyst, bitbank
Nishi Kyo | Cryptocurrency Analyst
Genki Oda | President, Japan Virtual and Crypto Asset Exchange Association (JVCEA)
Makoto Matsushima | Cryptocurrency Analyst, Monex Securities
hajimex | Representative Director & CEO, Shibuya Web3 University
Keynote: What Is Trust in a Decentralized Era?—The Mission of Layer 1 in 2026
This keynote explored, from an infrastructure-layer perspective, the keys to rebuilding trust mechanisms in a decentralized era—and Layer 1’s core mission within future ecosystems.
Charles Hoskinson | CEO & Founder, Input Output
Day 1 Recap
From Awa Odori to sumo performances, from diverse exhibition zones to immersive experiential content—the entire venue buzzed with energy throughout the day. TEAMZ Summit 2026 not only gathered frontier topics in Web3 and AI but also forged a uniquely TEAMZ atmosphere through deep integration with Japanese culture—offering fresh inspiration and meaningful connections to all attendees.
This day truly embodied the spirit of “Tradition Meets Tomorrow.”
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