"IVS2026 CRYPTO ZONE" to be Held in Kyoto in July, Hosted by NADA NEWS, Announcing 9 Key Sessions

N.Avenue Corporation, which operates the Web3 and digital asset media outlet "NADA NEWS," will establish a specialized crypto zone, "IVS2026 CRYPTO ZONE Powered by NADA NEWS," within Japan's largest startup conference, "IVS2026," to be held in Kyoto from Wednesday, July 1 to Friday, July 3, 2026. The company has now unveiled some of the key sessions that will take place over the three days on the "CRYPTO STAGE."

Background and Purpose

Fields such as stablecoins, RWA (Real World Asset) tokenization, and on-chain finance are moving beyond the proof-of-concept stage and into full-scale implementation by financial institutions and corporations. With regulatory frameworks advancing, including the transition to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, Japan's crypto-asset market is at a major turning point.

Against this backdrop, "IVS2026 CRYPTO ZONE" will delve deeply into everything from regulatory trends to the latest technology and business models, together with leading figures from industry, government, and academia. By creating a venue for entrepreneurs and investors in the crypto space to interact with new business development managers from companies attending IVS, the event aims to shape Japan's next growth strategy.

Key Sessions (CRYPTO STAGE | Miyako Messe Basement Floor)

<Wednesday, July 1>

【CP1-4】Towards the 'Land of the Rising Sun' again with AI and On-Chain Finance A look at the future where AI manages assets and makes payments autonomously, exploring the potential of the underlying "on-chain finance" and Japan's growth strategy. Speakers: Keio Isowa (Senior Managing Executive Officer / Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation), Seiji Kihara (Member of the House of Representatives), Chiharu Kuroda (Regulatory Expert / KDDI), Yosei Yoshida (CEO / HashPort Inc.)

【CP1-5】Who Will Create the 'Money of the Internet Age'?—Will the Main Players in Finance Change? With the advent of stablecoins and tokenized deposits, will the main players in finance shift away from banks, or will banks evolve by incorporating new technology? Front-line speakers will discuss the future. Speakers: Takashi Tezuka (Representative Director / Startale Japan), Takashi Tajima (Executive Officer / DeCurret DCP Inc.), Takeshi Nagasawa (Representative Director, CEO / Merpay, Inc.), Takayuki Masuda (Editor-in-Chief / NADA NEWS)

【CP1-6】Are Wallets the Next-Generation Super App? Wallets are incorporating not only payment and asset management but also ID and community functions. The session will explore who will control the next user interface and the path to mass adoption. Speakers: Michihiko Kasai (President and Representative Director / au Coincheck Digital Assets Corporation), Jinyoung Lee (Japan Business Lead / LINE NEXT), Yuki Jinguuji (Deputy Head of Financial Strategy Division / PayPay Corporation), Yuki Hashimoto (Reporter / NADA NEWS)

<Thursday, July 2>

【CP2-2】Payments or Yield?—Stablecoins at a Crossroads Stablecoins are beginning to diverge into "payment-type" and "yield-bearing" models. The session will examine whether they will become "money" or "investment products" in the Japanese market. Speakers: Kenta Sakakibara (Country Manager / Circle), Emi Hidaka (Executive Director / Nomura Holdings, Inc.), Hitoo Hizuki (Representative Director and President / Osaka Digital Exchange), Noritaka Okabe (CEO / JPYC Inc.), Shinichiro Kinjo (Founder / AKINDO)

【CP2-3】Will Trillions of Dollars from Institutional Investors Flow into the Crypto Market? Digital assets are moving into a phase of full-scale utilization by financial institutions. Players responsible for market infrastructure will discuss their strategies for custody, tokenization, and on-chain finance. Speakers: Adrian Li (APAC Policy Lead / Ethereum Foundation), Rikiya Yanagisawa (Director of Sales / BitGo), Taisuke Isono (Head of DeFi Technology Department / SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.), Thomas Chou (Head of Asia Pacific / Canton Foundation)

【CP2-4】The Rebuilding of Finance Starting with Tokenized MMFs—Will 'Wall Street 2.0' be Realized in Japan? Discussion on the potential of new financial infrastructure brought about by 24-hour settlement and on-chain collateral, spurred by the rapid growth of RWA tokenization in the U.S., such as BlackRock's "BUIDL". Speakers: Mitsunori Yuasa (Director / Franklin Templeton Japan), Shigeru Sato (Co-representative / Solana Superteam Japan), Yuichi Nomoto (Executive Officer / Nomura Asset Management Co., Ltd.), Yuki Tanaka (Director, BlackRock Global Markets / BlackRock Japan Co., Ltd.)

<Friday, July 3>

【CP3-1】Can Japan Become a 'Crypto-Advanced Nation' Again?—The Next Strategy for Crypto Exchanges and the Market A discussion on the future vision and growth strategy for the Japanese market as it reaches a turning point and begins initiatives focused on on-chain finance. Speakers: Hiroki Tahara (Representative Director / HODL1 Inc.), Noriyuki Hirosue (Representative Director, President & CEO / bitbank, inc.), Tsuyoshi Chino (CEO / Binance Japan), Naoki Tochiyama (Reporter / NADA NEWS)

【CP3-2】Will Tokens Change Business? Will They Become a New Customer Touchpoint? Tokens are evolving from speculative assets to tools for customer engagement and community building. The session will discuss the potential for transformation based on advanced examples like NOT A HOTEL. Speakers: Masahiro Hayashi (Representative Director / BACKSEAT Co., Ltd.), Masafumi Masuda (Partner / Mori Hamada & Matsumoto), Ryo Watanabe (Representative Director, CEO / NOT A HOTEL DAO Inc.), Yusuke Otsuka (Co-founder, Executive Officer, CBDO / Coincheck, Inc.)

【CP3-3】The Reality of Transitioning to the FIEA—How Will Regulation Change the Crypto Business? Japan's crypto-asset industry is facing a major transition to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA). Will this regulation foster market growth or diminish competitiveness? A discussion from policy, industry, and academic perspectives. Speakers: Genki Oda (Chairman / Japan Cryptoasset Trading Association), Ken Kawai (Partner / Anderson Mori & Tomotsune), Tetsuro Morishita (Professor / Sophia University Faculty of Law), Nobuchika Imaizumi (Director for Digital Assets, Blockchain, and Innovation / Financial Services Agency)

*Speakers and session content are subject to change. Please check the official website for the latest information.