Will the Future of the Net Develop? A Conversation on Blockchain’s Role

In the 2000s, when Tim Berners-Lee introduced the concept of “Web2.0,” the internet shifted from one-way browsing into an interactive space where individuals could share information.

Now, the next chapter—Web3—is emerging. What exactly will it bring? NIKKEI Financial deputy editor Junya Sekiguchi sat down with blockchain leaders, including Startale Group Founder and CEO Sota Watanabe to discuss where this technology is heading.

What Tokens Represent

Sota Watanabe (Startale Group, Founder & CEO): At its core, Web3 is about creating decentralized networks where users aren’t just consumers—they’re participants in managing and growing the system itself. The foundation for this is blockchain, a ledger where every transaction is recorded transparently and can’t be manipulated. For years, token models promised decentralization but rarely achieved it in practice. With today’s infrastructure, we can finally design incentives that live fully onchain. These networks run 24/7, 365 days a year, with no downtime. That level of openness and permanence is new to finance and technology.

Will Japan Become a Financial Power in Web3?

In Japan, the shift is already underway.

At Startale Group, we’re working with major financial groups and securities companies to introduce onchain settlement that doesn’t rely on traditional clearing houses. The aim is to modernize Japan’s clearing and settlement systems by leveraging blockchain’s speed and certainty.

Unlike traditional systems, blockchain offers instant finality—transactions confirmed and locked in near real-time. This isn’t theoretical; it’s already at a scale that can support financial market demand.

What Can Be Tokenized?

Almost anything with real-world value. Imagine water systems tokenized into “water tokens,” traded through a DeFi platform. That would allow seamless swaps across stablecoins—dollars, yen, and beyond.

The challenge is that Japan still lacks the legal framework to support these markets. In the U.S., regulators have relaxed rules to allow DeFi platforms to connect directly with exchanges and wallets. That connection unlocks usability and scale. Japan has the same potential if regulation evolves.

Why the U.S. Matters

From 2026, expanding into the U.S. market is one of our biggest priorities. Without success in America, there is no global success. That’s why I moved my base from Singapore to the U.S.—to be where the market, investors, and users are.

Startale Group is also investing heavily in infrastructure. Together with Sony Group Corporation, we’re building Soneium, our Ethereum Layer-2. On top of that, we’re developing Startale Group—wallets, payments, and stablecoin infrastructure designed to power not just finance, but entertainment and consumer apps too.

Our vision is that blockchain should fade into the background. Whether you’re streaming live content, playing games, or sending money, it should just work—and creators should be able to monetize without friction. That’s how blockchain becomes everyday infrastructure.