WebX 2026 has concluded in Tokyo, with the two-day event at The Prince Park Tower Tokyo drawing more than 13,600 attendees from over 90 countries and regions and hosting more than 70 side events. The conference highlighted fresh signals from Japan’s digital-asset market across regulation, institutional participation, and product adoption.
Regulatory progress and institutional participation took center stage
Against the backdrop of a rapidly improving digital-asset regulatory framework in Japan, this year’s WebX became a venue for discussions on the rollout of yen stablecoins, tokenization efforts by major banks, and the faster entry of institutional capital.
From policy direction to concrete corporate positioning and technical development, the event presented a view of Japan’s Web3 market moving from a compliance-first phase toward broader adoption. That shift also fed a visible recovery in institutional confidence on the ground.
High-profile guests spanned government, institutions, and crypto founders
The guest list brought together policymakers, regulators, institutional leaders, and project founders. Japan’s 105th prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, delivered a video message that reaffirmed government support for startups and Web3 innovation. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa were also present at the event.
In a keynote speech, BitMine chairman Tom Lee said Ethereum is entering an “ETH 2.0” phase. He compared the shift with valuation transitions seen at companies such as Amazon and Nvidia as they moved from a 1.0 stage to a 2.0 stage, and he laid out a high long-term price target outlook. That view quickly fueled discussion at the venue around Ethereum’s longer-term narrative.
Institutional speakers included Ondo Finance CEO Ian De Bode, Coinbase strategy head John D'Agostino, and Visa Asia-Pacific head of digital currency Nischint Sanghavi. Their sessions focused on the practical path for stablecoins, tokenization, and digital infrastructure.
TRON founder Justin Sun joined through an online keynote. He outlined the role of blockchain as a financial base layer in the era of AI agents, echoing the “AI+Crypto” theme that has been drawing heavy attention in the Chinese-speaking community.
Three main stages focused on stablecoins, AI, and RWA
The main venue featured three stages: CRYL Stage, Binance Stage, and Limitless Stage. Programming covered stablecoins, AI, tokenization, and digital infrastructure, with hands-on workshops and interactive exhibition areas added to the agenda.
That setup gave attendees exposure to policy and institutional signals while also showing real product and technology implementations on site.
On-site experiences and networking were expanded
The event also leaned into immersive experiences. Attendees who completed the WebX Stamp Rally could join a guaranteed-prize drawing for limited-edition merchandise. The Business Networking Area used the Bizzabo event app to support one-on-one meetings with potential partners, investors, and industry peers.
A Memory Wall decorated with wisteria and traditional Japanese umbrellas was built with 100% recycled paper honeycomb board supported by the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau. Visitors could take free instant photos there. The venue also offered free massages and a traditional matcha tea ceremony between sessions.
On the social side, the first day included a closed-door VIP/Speaker Night dinner for thought leaders and senior decision-makers, while the closing night featured an official after-party at Zouk Tokyo.
Sponsors and the 2027 venue change
Title sponsors for the event were Bitbank, bitFlyer, BitLending, eole, SBI Holdings, Simplex, UPCX, and Advasa. According to the conference positioning, that lineup pointed to long-term commitment from Japanese institutions and global capital toward the Web3 sector.
WebX also announced that the 2027 edition will move to Tokyo Big Sight on Aug. 25-26, 2027. The new venue is described as nearly 1.8 times the scale of this year’s site. Pre-registration for WebX 2027 is set to open soon, with details to be posted at www.webx-asia.com.
About WebX
WebX is organized by CoinPost, one of Japan’s largest crypto media outlets, and is positioned as a flagship Web3 and blockchain conference in Asia. According to the organizer, the 2025 edition drew more than 14,000 attendees from over 90 countries. Past speakers have included Binance founder CZ, TRON founder Justin Sun, and former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.