Due to its community-driven nature, events have become an integral part of the crypto ecosystem. Every year, tens of thousands of participants gather at conferences, summits, hackathons, and community meetups to engage in deep conversations about emerging trends, technological advancements, and the growing tech landscape.
In a space defined by constant change, physical meetups are crucial to advancing the development of a decentralized economy, and the recent TEAMZ event in Japan exemplified the importance of bringing together industry professionals.
Despite the broader market turbulence over recent months, the Web3 ecosystem in Japan has continued to grow, marked by an influx of new projects throughout the ecosystem. James Wo, Founder and CEO of Digital Finance Group (DFG), shared his main takeaways from the TEAMZ event, highlighting what crypto participants can expect for 2025 and beyond.
1. The continued convergence between Web3 and AI
One central theme of this year’s TEAMZ event was the continued convergence of Web3 and AI technologies, with Japan spearheading developments in this space. According to Wo, startups have shown how decentralized infrastructure is being deployed to power AI applications and strengthen security, data ownership, and transparency. Wo highlighted that the combination of AI and Web3 is now deployed in healthcare, finance, and logistics, where sensitive data is top priority.
Japanese startups are showing greater interest in AI-generated digital assets, like NFTs created by generative models and decentralized AI services using smart contracts. At the event, projects showcased tools enabling users to co-own and co-train AI agents, on-chain. Wo believes this signals where the market is heading. The event showed how the intersection of Web3 and AI has gained support from government-backed accelerators and academic institutions, like Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), and other institutions that are actively advancing these ventures.
2. Expansion of stablecoins
This year’s TEAMZ event highlighted Japan’s blossoming role as a leader in stablecoin adoption, primarily through regulatory clarity and industry initiatives throughout 2024 and into 2025. James shares that with the implementation of Japan’s amended Payment Services Act, financial entities have started to issue compliant stablecoins under regulated structures. This is a significant milestone, as traditional banks and blockchain companies have started exploring the viability of stablecoins for payment, settlement, and cross-border transfers.
Wo shares that one of the most impactful moments of the event was hearing about SBI VC Trade’s regulatory approval from Japan’s Financial Services Agency (JFSA), which allowed USDC to be used under the country’s latest stablecoin rules. This launch reinforces Japan’s commitment to continue growing its digital ecosystem while ensuring responsible regulatory oversight. He says it positions SBI and Circle, the issuer of USDC, positively, making them key participants in stablecoin adoption nationwide.
3. Growth in the Web3 Japanese market
Despite the market’s fluctuations, the event showed a growing interest in the Japanese market, driven primarily by interest from international project engagement and momentum among local developers. Wo explains that the event presented a stage for global projects to announce plans to strengthen ties to the Japanese Web3 market through infrastructure protocols, DeFi platforms, and AI-driven blockchain solutions. This interest in Japan is driven by its well-defined regulatory framework alongside leaders who remain open-minded to the prospect of a digital financial ecosystem.
The rise of blockchain and crypto integration into the mainstream was evident, as Wo claims that many Web2 projects are now actively transitioning to Web3 models. Wo reasons that Japanese-based firms are looking to grow domestically and globally, stepping into global markets to secure support from international partners to drive their ventures forward.
In addition to attending the event, DFG hosted a side event called “Bloom of Web3” alongside Soneium, Amber Group, and Jsquare. The event welcomed over 130 guests, facilitating an environment to connect and engage in meaningful conversations with leaders and entrepreneurs across the industry. DFG’s side event enabled them to discuss emerging trends and developments in the market, both within the Japanese ecosystem and globally. Wo also participated in the panel discussion, “The Frontline of Web3 & AI Investment,” which discussed AI pivots, scam prevention via AI, and on-chain data.
Community has played a significant role in the development of crypto, and events such as TEAMZ provide a space for like-minded entrepreneurs, developers, and experts to come together, share insights, and build meaningful relationships. As the industry progresses, events like TEAMZ will continue to be beneficial in fostering growth.
