Japan's new PM keeps the country's WEB3 bet

Japanese Prime Minister @takaichi_sanae used her opening address at WebX 2026 in Tokyo to send a familiar message: the government remains behind Web3 and the startup sector. The speech, delivered via video on July 13, added no new money, no new policy, and no concrete timeline. What it offered was continuity.

What Takaichi Said

Prime Minister Takaichi renewed the government's support for startups and Web3 during a video address at WebX 2026 in Tokyo. She highlighted the Total Support Package for Startups, a policy framework established in May 2025, designed to increase financial backing from both government bodies and private financial institutions. Takaichi presented Web3 as part of Japan's wider innovation program rather than a separate crypto plan.

Japan's five-year plan aims to raise annual startup investment to about 10 trillion yen by fiscal 2027. Official documents set longer-term targets of 100 unicorns and 100,000 startups. Her presentation stopped short of unveiling any dedicated Web3 funding mechanism or immediate regulatory adjustments affecting digital currency businesses.

A Pattern of Prime Ministerial Support

Takaichi's message followed appearances by previous prime ministers at the same conference. Fumio Kishida addressed WebX by video in 2024 and linked blockchain to social and economic policy. Shigeru Ishiba appeared in person in 2025 and backed investment support and rule changes for Web3 and artificial intelligence. That makes Takaichi the third consecutive sitting prime minister to address the conference, a streak that has come to define Japan's consistent, if measured, stance on the sector.

The repeated participation gives the industry access to senior officials, though speeches do not guarantee new laws or funding. Beyond the headline address, legislative bodies are progressing legislation that would implement a uniform 20% taxation rate on cryptocurrency profits, which would align digital asset tax treatment more closely with equities and fixed-income securities. Tax-related provisions remain pending and could become effective beginning in 2028.

On the private side, Ripple collaborated with Web3 Salon to introduce grants up to $200,000 for Japanese development teams building on the XRP Ledger, with a focus on payment solutions, asset tokenization, and decentralized finance applications. Organizers expect about 15,000 participants, placing WebX 2026 among Asia's largest Web3 gatherings.

For the Web3 industry, the address reinforces that Tokyo views blockchain as a legitimate part of its economic strategy. The test will be whether the policy commitments behind those words move faster than the speeches themselves.

Sources:
Japan PM Takaichi backs Web3 startups with funding and rule changes (crypto.news)
Japanese PM Takaichi Champions Web3 Innovation With 10 Trillion Yen Investment Vision (Blockonomi)
WebX 2026 Official Site