Summary
1. 2026 is a 'Make-or-Break Year' Betting on the On-Chain Wave
For Startale, 2026 is positioned as a decisive year that will determine the success or failure of its business. Capturing the wave of 'on-chain' developments, particularly in the U.S., and joining the ranks of the winners is deemed the most critical task.
2. Building an On-Chain Economic Zone with a Vertical Integration Strategy
By developing chains (Soneium, Strium), a Japanese yen stablecoin, and a wallet (Startale App) as a unified entity, the company integrates infrastructure to applications. This 'mixed martial arts' strategy aims to establish a competitive edge by covering multiple layers.
3. Innovating the Web3.0 Experience and Global Expansion, with a Focus on the U.S. Market
The Startale App aims to achieve Web2-level ease of use, targeting mass adoption. While advocating for infrastructure built in Japan, the key to growth is seen in the U.S. market, with the goal of establishing a position in global competition.
──What is the significance of 2026 for Startale?
Sota Watanabe (hereafter, Watanabe): I've stated this internally as well, but 2026 is truly a make-or-break year. I'm approaching it with the resolve of having no retreat, to the extent that if we can't succeed this year, I'm prepared to step down. In the world of crypto and blockchain, the long-discussed mass adoption is finally becoming a reality.
In particular, 'on-chain' is becoming a major trend in the U.S. However, the IT industry is fundamentally 'Winner Takes All.' Winning players rapidly expand their share, while those who don't face tough times. If we can't join the winners, there's no point in continuing the business. That's why 2026 is the year to stake everything.
──It seems several new projects are already underway.
Watanabe: We've announced the first close of Series A funding from Sony, the business development of the blockchain 'Soneium' with Sony, the financial chain 'Strium' with SBI, and the development of the Japanese yen stablecoin 'JPYSC.'
From the outside, we probably appear as a company with projects moving forward one after another. In reality, we feel quite confident. Especially in collaboration with SBI, we are progressing with strong alignment with Yoshitaka Kitao in areas like tokenization of financial assets and stablecoins.
