With over 2 years of experience in lending operations, we provide services such as security measures.
The keyword for 2023 is "sustainability." Leveraging their accumulated know-how, they will develop research and lending services.
Following the collapse of FTX, many cryptocurrency-related companies were left without a job, while overseas lending services collapsed and regulations were strengthened.
On the other hand, since Japan has long been under strict regulatory conditions, fewer companies and services were directly affected compared to overseas. HashHub, which is led by CEO Junya Hirano and is committed to risk management and utilization of customer assets, is one of them.
With much attention being paid to the future of cryptocurrency utilization, what are Hirano's thoughts?
Hirano: As for trends in 2023, the term Web 3.0 has become popular in the past year, and many companies, including prototypes, are expected to enter the market. I think companies from all fields will enter the market, but I think that there will be many content and game companies in particular. Japan has a lot of domestic IP, and I think that companies that can utilize it and major game companies will enter and lead the way.
The theme of this year will be "sustainability." Last year, the "lack of sustainability" was exposed in the cryptocurrency and NFT fields.
In blockchain games, such as STEPN, the issue of sustainability cannot be maintained unless users constantly flow in.
Against this background, sustainability will be the keyword in 2023, and it will be a year in which we will explore innovations or products in the Web 3.0 field to solve the lack of sustainability.
In terms of trends in cryptocurrencies, I recognize that the contrast between countries that promote Web 3.0 and countries that strengthen regulations is becoming stronger. In Japan, even in the wake of the collapse of FTX, the company is taking a stance of firmly moving forward with Web 3.0.
Meanwhile, in the United States, the collapse of FTX has made it clear that regulations will become stricter. Aside from the regulation of crypto assets, we have seen many actions by regulatory authorities, including the SEC, recently, such as the US District Court ruling that NFTs in NBA Top Shot Moments are securities.
As part of HashHub's development, we offer two main services: research and lending.
Regarding research, we are seeing a sharp increase in corporate clients. In addition to using our research reports, an increasing number of companies are actually starting businesses and creating products.
As for lending, while some similar companies are facing tough times, we are fortunate to have not been directly affected by FTX and others. We believe that this is the result of our risk management and security measures, which are well-fitting.
However, I believe that market risks are still smoldering, so our company's policy is to do our best to protect and return customer assets under any circumstances. On that basis, we will continue to invest in new areas.
We also released a smart contract auditing service in January of this year.
HashHub has been operating a lending service for over two years, and will use that know-how to develop services that meet the needs of companies that are struggling with security measures and risk control methods. We will contribute to the development of the Web 3.0 industry in the form of smart contract audits.
Crypto assets in 2023
Market risks are still smoldering. We will continue to invest in areas where we can generate returns.
◉Junya Hirano
Profile│Co-founder and CEO of HashHub. Entrepreneur. After selling his clothing business, he became interested in Bitcoin in 2013 and entered the blockchain industry. He co-founded HashHub in 2018 and became CEO in 2019.
