TLDR
- PM Takaichi backed Japan’s Web3 sector at the WebX 2026 conference in Tokyo, expected to draw 15,000 attendees
- Japan’s Comprehensive Startup Support Package aims to raise annual startup investment to 10 trillion yen by fiscal 2027
- Crypto tax reform is moving through lawmakers, with a proposed 20% rate on gains and potential crypto ETFs
- Ripple and Web3 Salon launched grants of up to $200,000 for Japanese teams building on the XRP Ledger
- Long-term government targets include 100 unicorns and 100,000 startups across Japan
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addressed the WebX 2026 conference in Tokyo via video on July 13, voicing the government’s continued support for startups and Web3 companies.
Japan PM Sanae Takaichi Reaffirms Startup and Web3 Support at WebX 2026
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in a video address at WebX 2026 that the government will strengthen startup support through measures including increased funding from government-backed funds and… pic.twitter.com/N5tuYGZIbw
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) July 13, 2026
The conference is one of Asia’s largest Web3 gatherings. Organizers expect around 15,000 participants. Takaichi described it as a meeting place for founders, investors and companies looking for real blockchain use cases.
Takaichi presented Web3 as part of Japan’s broader innovation agenda, not as a standalone crypto initiative. She praised WebX for connecting startups with investors and giving participants a space to discuss future services.
Her address did not announce a new dedicated Web3 fund or any immediate regulatory changes for crypto companies.
Government Plans More Capital and Regulatory Relief
Takaichi pointed to Japan’s Comprehensive Startup Support Package, prepared in May 2025. It builds on the Five-Year Startup Development Plan adopted in 2022.
The package calls for increased capital from government-backed funds and financial institutions. It also includes regulatory changes intended to help young companies grow, hire and reach larger markets.
Japan’s five-year plan targets annual startup investment of roughly 10 trillion yen by fiscal 2027. The government also wants Japan to become a leading startup hub in Asia. Official documents set longer-term goals of 100 unicorns and 100,000 startups.
Takaichi did not give a timetable for any specific measure. Results will depend on investment activity and how each policy is rolled out.
Crypto Tax Reform and Private Grants Move Forward
Japan is also revising its digital asset rules. Lawmakers are advancing a bill that could apply a flat 20% tax rate to crypto gains. The planned change would bring crypto closer in tax treatment to stocks and bonds.
The bill could also create a pathway for domestic crypto exchange-traded funds. The tax provisions are not yet in force and could take effect as early as 2028.
Private funding is also entering the space. Ripple and Web3 Salon launched grants of up to $200,000 for Japanese teams building on the XRP Ledger. The program targets payments, tokenized assets and decentralized finance projects. Web3 Salon receives support from the Japan External Trade Organization.
These grants are separate from the government package but show how public agencies and private companies are both engaging with startup founders.
Takaichi’s appearance follows similar addresses by former PMs Fumio Kishida in 2024 and Shigeru Ishiba in 2025. The repeated presence of senior officials gives the industry a line to government, though speeches alone do not guarantee new laws or funding.
Japan’s next steps will include executing the startup package, finalizing crypto legislation and confirming whether new capital actually reaches early-stage companies.
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