Japan advances crypto sector with 3 bn‑yen institutional fund and major WebX conference

Japan’s digital‑asset market moved toward greater institutional maturity as gumi Inc. and SBI Holdings announced the formation of SBI Crypto Fund I, a 3 billion‑yen (about $18.3 million) investment vehicle slated to begin operations on 1 August 2026. The fund, structured as a silent partnership and managed by a joint‑venture between SBI Financial Services (51%) and gumi’s subsidiary gC Labs Inc. (49%), will actively manage Bitcoin and leading altcoins using staking, hedging and periodic rebalancing. Traditional banking firms including Daiwa Securities Group and Yamada Securities Group are also backing the initiative, signaling preparation for forthcoming cryptocurrency exchange‑traded funds in Japan.

At the same time, the fourth edition of WebX 2026 concluded in Tokyo, drawing 13,641 participants from more than 90 countries. The two‑day event featured high‑level dialogues on yen‑stablecoins, tokenization and institutional adoption, with Japanese officials such as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Finance Minister Katayama Satsuki and METI Minister Ryosei Akazawa speaking alongside global crypto leaders. Over 70 side events showcased developments in AI, digital infrastructure and regulatory frameworks, underscoring Japan’s push to become a hub for crypto innovation.