The one and only "Web 3.0 actress" Aida Ai: What is the appeal of finance and Bitcoin?

You are currently active as an actress and TV personality, but what about the world of finance attracted you?

Aida Ai (hereafter, Aida): My parents were traders, and I saw them trading stocks and other things. Therefore, I had a genuine interest in the world of finance from an early age.

Having seen stock and FX trading up close, did you ever think about becoming a trader yourself?

Aida: I had a vague idea that I could make a living as a trader. I actually started trading when I was 18, starting with FX.

Are there any points that you are particular about when investing?

Aida: I studied currencies in graduate school, and I have high expectations for the future of crypto assets, which can be said to be the currency of the future, and have been following their trends since 2017.

Currently, I am the MC for SBI Securities' YouTube show. There is a corner on the show where I recommend my favorite stocks, and I recommended Metaplanet, which has been attracting attention by purchasing Bitcoin.

You can support a company or field through stocks, and I think it's important to invest in themes you like. I'm a big fan of the metaverse in relation to cryptocurrencies, and there was a time when I was a big supporter of Roblox and Unity.

I heard that you researched the relationship between gold and currency when you were a student. Why did you choose this theme?

Aida: It all started when I was studying modern financial history in graduate school and realized that currency has a huge influence on the economy. From there, I started to have more and more interests and questions, such as "What does it mean to have a reserve currency system or a currency that is trusted?", and my interest deepened. From there, I started to actually research it as a graduate student.

At that time, I was most interested in the movement of the Swiss franc. I was interested in the Swiss franc because it is said to be a strong and stable currency, and I researched the financial history of Switzerland during the world wars and the Swiss franc shock.

As I was doing research in graduate school, I also became interested in "gold," which is a safe asset like the Swiss franc, and chose the topic of "the relationship between gold and currency" for my master's thesis. Currently, Bitcoin is said to be digital gold, and I am very interested in what kind of asset it will become in the future.

When you were a student, you also worked on the topic of "stock prices and idols." Why did you decide to research this?

Aida: I am an actress and celebrity, but it has something to do with the fact that when I was a university student, I was a big fan of female idols such as AKB. I started researching this because I found it very interesting that the trends in popular idols differ depending on the economic situation.

You said you like female idols, but did you have any aspirations or interest in the entertainment industry since your graduate school days?

Aida: At that time I never thought I would become a celebrity. However, since my student days I loved acting and teaching people, and I aspired to be in the entertainment industry, where I could communicate something to people.

After graduating from Nagoya University Graduate School, while working as a staff member at Nagoya Institute of Technology, I had the opportunity to reconsider what I really wanted to do, and I made a complete turnaround and decided to enter the entertainment industry. Now I have the opportunity to appear on programs related to cryptocurrencies and convey the appeal of cryptocurrencies, which is very fulfilling.

It seems like you've been very active in the Web3.0 field recently. Tell us how you got into this field.

Aida: I became interested in crypto assets when I learned about Bitcoin in the context of "currency" around 2017. I looked into many currencies, but Bitcoin has always been my favorite. In addition, I was shocked by the possibilities that Ethereum's smart contracts could create, and I strongly believed that "this will change the world."

In 2021, I started a YouTube channel. There, I focused on having actual experiences, such as shopping with Bitcoin and playing Web3.0 games.

Currently, the number of crypto assets is increasing dramatically, but I think there are similarities between those that will survive. Among them, I expect that those that are useful in the financial world, those that are robust like the Swiss franc, and those that make people happy like female idols will survive. That's why I wanted to know what kind of projects will be in demand in the future and what the future holds for crypto assets.

However, in 2022, the crypto winter hit and I decided to leave my YouTube activities. Still, my interest in cryptocurrencies did not cool, and I began to attend events in the Web3.0 field. I felt that there was great value in listening to experts directly and gaining cutting-edge knowledge, and I spent my days listening to keynote speeches.

After the crypto winter ended in 2023, I once again received more requests for work in the Web3.0 field. I was particularly interested in the Web3.0 golf game "GOLFIN". In 2025, I was appointed as an ambassador. I was faced with the challenge of how to make contact with people who were not exposed to Web3.0 and draw their interest. In the midst of all this, I found one possibility in golf.

Golf is a sport that connects people across generations and occupations, and conversations naturally emerge even with people who are not familiar with Web3.0 or cryptocurrencies. I thought that if we could take advantage of this characteristic, we could provide a smoother entrance to the world of Web3.0. My encounter with GOLFIN was the catalyst for realizing that idea. I feel that we can spread the appeal of Web 3.0 on the common stage of golf, and I am strongly attracted to this new challenge.

You said that in addition to cryptocurrencies, you also like the metaverse. When did you start to like it?

Aida: I became fascinated with the world of VR around 2017. This was also the time when "VR gravure" appeared, and I, who was also active as a gravure idol at the time, volunteered to try VR gravure. The moment I saw my image projected in 3D for the first time, I was shocked by its realism and intuitively felt that "in the future, everything will be expressed in the digital world."

Currently, while working as an actress and talent, I have been given the opportunity to appear in VR works. However, unlike traditional acting, I also realize that there are unique difficulties unique to the metaverse. Different skills are required from regular acting, such as perspective, sense of distance, and how to create a sense of immersion. And when I think that "one day, there may come a day when actors will no longer even need to act," I have some mixed feelings.

The fields where I feel the potential of VR and the metaverse is the most are medicine and engineering. For example, if doctors use VR technology to share the state of surgery in real time, it will dramatically improve the learning of medical students and other doctors. Also, while working at Nagoya Institute of Technology, I witnessed research using smart glasses to convey information to visually impaired people, and I strongly felt that "the world will really change."

The reason I am attracted to VR and the metaverse is not just because technology evolves, but because it has the potential to transform people's lives and society itself. I would like to continue to take on new challenges from the perspective of acting, while watching the evolution of this field.

Ms. Aida, you studied the relationship between gold and currency when you were a student. How do you view Bitcoin, also known as "digital gold"?

Aida: Based on what I have learned in the past, I believe that "actual use for payments" leads to the strength of a currency. I believe that the creation of a Bitcoin reserve, which is currently being discussed in the United States, will have a major impact on the future of Bitcoin. I believe that if the United States holds Bitcoin as a reserve, the price will stabilize and it will become easier to use for payments.

However, the absolute amount of Bitcoin circulating in the market is expected to decrease with the creation of the reserve. Therefore, I think that there is a possibility that it may become difficult to use in some cases. So, in conclusion, at this stage, it is an "unknown entity" that we don't know which way it will go. That's why I'm interested in it, and that's why Bitcoin is interesting.

Also, in some countries that dislike US hegemony, crypto assets are sometimes chosen as a means to counter the dollar. I believe there is also a movement to further increase the value of Bitcoin and gold as a means to escape centralization.

Please tell us what areas you are currently paying attention to and what projects you think will attract demand in the future.

Aida: Given that Web3.0 has not yet been mass-adopted, I think there will be demand in the gaming and entertainment fields. Among them, I think that "metaverse x blockchain games" will be an area that will grow in the future, and I think the key is how much we can create something that is easy for the general public to access while incorporating investment and earning.

Please tell us about your future plans and goals as an actress and talent who is knowledgeable about Web3.0.

Aida: I will be hosting the "TEAMZ WEB3/AI SUMMIT" to be held on April 16th and 17th this year, so I would like to do my best. I would be happy if all readers could come to the event.

Also, I am really interested in and love blockchain, so I recently obtained the Certified Cryptocurrency Expert qualification run by the overseas "Blockchain Council". It was very interesting to learn about the unique perceptions overseas that are different from those in Japan. Since I have obtained the qualification, I would like to make use of it in my future activities.

Also, as I am the only actress and talent who is knowledgeable about Web3.0, I would like to convey the appeal of Web3.0 to as many people as possible through various media such as television and radio.

Filming cooperation: Crypto Lounge GOX

What is Crypto Lounge GOX?

A lounge space for the purpose of exchanging information and communicating about crypto assets. Located in Higashi-Shinjuku in central Tokyo, it is a place where people interested in crypto assets and blockchain technology, from beginners to advanced users, can gather, learn, and interact.

Visit the Crypto Lounge GOX homepage here

Profile

◉ Aida Ai

Actress, model, and MC. Miss Tokyo Sports 2019. Graduated from the Graduate School of Economics at Nagoya University. Also scored 885 points on the TOEIC test. Qualified financial planner and private banker, invests in stocks and FX. Has also spoken at many seminars. MC at Web3.0 and blockchain events. Belongs to M's Enterprise.

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