Welcome to Tokyo: Episode II
by Keanu Newman, Director of Business Operations, Asia-Pacific
Japan Blockchain Conference 2019
At the end of January, I attended Japan Blockchain Conference 2019 in Yokohama. It was great running into friends from the US (shoutout to Austin Davis, founder of Blockchain Beach), and was interesting to hear corporate giants like Line Corp and Rakuten, Inc. explain their current blockchain initiatives at JBC.
When we launched adToken in 2017, it was common to see small companies and entrepreneurs developing blockchain projects. Now it is incredible to see companies like JP Morgan, IBM, Google, (to name a few of the large conglomerates), explore blockchain services.
Neutrino Office
In February, we moved from our previous office space at WeWork in the Jingumae District of Shibuya to a blockchain co-working space called Neutrino in Shibuya’s Sakuragaoka District. Hosted by OmiseGO and Global Brain Corporation, Neutrino provides a highly collaborative space for blockchain companies that are establishing in Japan. The Neutrino community has been very helpful, whether it be answering questions related to ongoing projects or providing connections. Also, the shared space hosts weekly events for members, which is a way for MetaX to network and focus on innovative development.
Next Steps
Our current plan is to gain clarity on the Financial Services Agency’s take on cryptocurrency regulation. After Coincheck’s massive breach of $530 million in early January 2018, the FSA re-granted full permission for Coincheck to continue operating in the country. This is a powerful move for a financial regulator who has been notoriously conservative and reactive in the past with regards to exchange mishaps.
In addition, Chinese-owned Huobi Global recently acquired a majority stake in Japan’s BitTrade, which is one of only 16 regulated crypto exchanges in the country (although this number is expected to rise). This sent a message to the cryptocurrency community in Japan that the FSA is becoming more lenient when it comes to foreign blockchain projects expanding their operations into Japan and we couldn’t be more excited.
