Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in a video address at WebX 2026 that the government will strengthen startup support through increased funding from government‑backed funds and regulatory adjustments for Web3 companies. The remarks were made during the conference, which organizers expect to attract about 15,000 participants, placing it among Asia’s largest Web3 gatherings. Takaichi linked Japan’s Web3 growth to the Comprehensive Startup Support Package released in May 2025, which seeks to raise annual startup investment to roughly 10 trillion yen by fiscal 2027 and to create 100 unicorns and 100,000 startups. The package also aims to position Japan as a leading Asian startup hub. She said the conference provides a platform for founders, investors and companies to form business partnerships, adding that “Japan’s innovation ecosystem will develop further.” The address did not announce a new Web3 fund, a dedicated grant program or immediate regulatory changes. Crypto reforms move alongside the startup support. Lawmakers are advancing a bill that could impose a 20 percent tax on crypto gains and create a pathway for domestic crypto exchange‑traded funds, a treatment that would bring crypto closer to stocks and bonds. Those tax provisions are expected to begin in 2028. Private programs have added support, including grants of up to $200,000 from Ripple and Web3 Salon for Japanese teams building on the XRP Ledger, targeting payments, tokenized assets and decentralized finance projects. Takaichi’s remarks follow similar statements by former Prime Ministers Fumio Kishida in 2024 and Shigeru Ishiba in 2025, who also highlighted investment and rule changes for Web3 and artificial intelligence. While the speeches give the industry access to senior officials, they do not guarantee new laws or funding. The government will now implement the startup package, complete crypto legislation and monitor whether new funding reaches early‑stage companies.