eXponential Finance

 Once again, we're coming to you live from WebX Tokyo, where the future of decentralized technology is being debated, designed, and deployed.

Our next guest needs little introduction. He’s one of the sharpest, most influential minds in the entire space: Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly, a four-billion-dollar crypto fund that has backed some of the most iconic projects in the industry.

Haseeb is famous for his foundational thesis: Blockchains are Cities. He argues that just as no single city can house everyone, no single blockchain can rule them all. Instead, we’re witnessing the rise of a digital world with multiple, competing metropolises—each with its own unique culture, economy, and purpose.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore:

- Why Japan, despite its regulatory head start, has fallen behind in the global crypto race.

- The fundamental difference between blockchains and traditional networks, and why it changes everything for investors.

- And finally, we dive into the inevitable collision of the two biggest technologies of our time: Blockchain and AI.

Haseeb argues that AI models will become so powerful, and so politically important, that decentralized, censorship-resistant systems will become not just an option, but a necessity.

This is a masterclass on first-principles thinking from one of crypto’s leading investors.

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 While the main stage at WebX Tokyo buzzes with talk of billion-dollar ETFs and institutional adoption, there’s another, shadow economy at play—one that operates on the very same rails we’re trying to build.

Hacks. Scams. Sanctions. It’s a multi-billion dollar problem. Just last year, over forty-one billion dollars in on-chain value was transferred to illicit addresses.

So how do we build a transparent, trustworthy financial system on a technology that’s so often associated with the shadows? How do you police a borderless world?

To answer that, we have the perfect guide. Not just an expert, but someone who has seen this world from both sides. Our guest today is Chengyi Ong, Head of Policy for APAC at Chainalysis, the world's leading blockchain intelligence platform. Before diving into crypto, she spent over a decade as a regulator with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. She’s gone from making the rules to helping enforce them in the wild west of Web3.

👉 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, the "Japan FinTech Observer", here: https://www.fintechobserver.com

Live from WebX 2025 in Tokyo, we bring you this panel featuring:

Betty Sun-Lucas, Stellar Development Foundation, Regional Director, APAC

Qin En Looi, Saison Capital, Partner

Matt Harrop, Figment, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder

👉 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, the "Japan FinTech Observer", here: https://www.fintechobserver.com

​Michinori Kanokogi, CFA, is Head of Solution Research at Nissay Asset Management. He leads the research and development of digital investment solutions for investors.

​Previously, he led the launch of AQR Capital Management’s Japan business as head of investment management. He also has experience in multi-manager investment at Russell Investments, equity portfolio management at UBS, and management consulting at PwC and Deloitte.

​He translated several finance/AI books, including Advances in Financial Machine Learning, Expected Returns, and Beyond Diversification. He holds a bachelor's of English from the University of Tokyo, a master's of English from Kyoto University, and an MBA from INSEAD. He is a CFA charterholder.

Produced in collaboration with Tokyo FinTech. If you have an interesting story to share with our audience, and would like to appear on the podcast, please contact us via 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We also publish a weekly newsletter, the "Japan FinTech Observer", which we invite you to subscribe to: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fintechobserver.com⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on....

Home Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tokyofintech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fintechobserver.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Meetup: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lu.ma/japanfintechobserver?utm_source=spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Drew Robbins is the author of the book “When No One's Keeping Score: The Meaningful Moves That Build a Fulfilling Career”, a practical, story-rich guide to finding meaning, building resilience, and making real progress at work—without burning out or waiting for permission.

Drew is a seasoned leader and mentor with over 20 years of experience guiding professionals through the real-world challenges of building meaningful careers. He has led teams at Microsoft and shaped how organizations adopt and apply emerging technologies like Generative AI. 

Produced in collaboration with Tokyo FinTech. If you have an interesting story to share with our audience, and would like to appear on the podcast, please contact us via 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We also publish a weekly newsletter, the "Japan FinTech Observer", which we invite you to subscribe to: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fintechobserver.com⁠⁠

You can also find us on....

Home Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tokyofintech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Blog: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.fintechobserver.com⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/tokyofintech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Meetup: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lu.ma/japanfintechobserver?utm_source=spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Akio Tanaka is a Co-Founder and Partner at Headline Asia. Akio has driven impactful investments in FinTech, E-commerce, and Blockchain, leading to Japan’s No.1 & No.2 FinTech unicorns, freee, and WealthNavi. His expertise spans cross-border digital payment platforms, democratizing private equity access, and nurturing Web3. 

We have recorded this podcast episode to celebrate Headline Asia's USD 145 million Fund V, supporting a new generation of founders building in high-growth sectors including e-commerce, logistics, FinTech, IP and artificial intelligence - domains where Asia is setting new global standards.

Produced in collaboration with Tokyo FinTech. If you have an interesting story to share with our audience, and would like to appear on the podcast, please contact us via 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We also publish a weekly newsletter, the "Japan FinTech Observer", which we invite you to subscribe to: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fintechobserver.com⁠

You can also find us on....

Home Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tokyofintech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/tokyofintech/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/TokyoFinTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Blog: ⁠⁠https://www.fintechobserver.com⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/tokyofintech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Meetup: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lu.ma/japanfintechobserver?utm_source=spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the eXponential Finance Podcast, we explore avenues to create legal entities for Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), with a particular focus on the structure set up in the Marshall Islands.

Adam Miller is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MIDAO. Adam is a passionate member of several DAOs such as Purple, Builder DAO, CryptoMondays, and Beaver DAO to name a few. Previously, Adam conducted research on blockchain for emerging technology innovation at Capital Group. 

Produced in collaboration with Tokyo FinTech. If you have an interesting story to share with our audience, and would like to appear on the podcast, please contact us via 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We also publish a weekly newsletter, the "Japan FinTech Observer", which we invite you to subscribe to: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fintechobserver.com

You can also find us on....

Home Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tokyofintech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/tokyofintech/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/TokyoFinTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Blog: ⁠https://www.fintechobserver.com⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/tokyofintech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Meetup: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lu.ma/japanfintechobserver?utm_source=spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For this podcast episode, we have picked one of the insightful sessions from the recent TEAMZ Summit in Tokyo, a place where Web3 developers, investors, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts can gather, explore the latest trends, connect with global leaders, and discover business opportunities. This panel of industry leaders discussed “The Future of Bitcoin: Its Role as Digital Gold and Integration into the Financial System.”

Speakers:

Asal Alizade – Blocklogica

Lingling Jiang – DWF Labs

Dmitriy Sheludko – Biconomy

Kyle Ellicott – Stacks Asia Foundation

Tickets for the TEAMZ Summit 2026 are currently available at Ultra Early Bird pricing, for as little as USD 12 for a General Pass:

https://web3.teamz.co.jp/en/tickets-list-2026

Produced in collaboration with Tokyo FinTech. If you have an interesting story to share with our audience, and would like to appear on the podcast, please contact us via 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We also publish a weekly newsletter, the "Japan FinTech Observer", which we invite you to subscribe to: 

https://www.fintechobserver.com

In this episode of the eXponential Finance Podcast, we explore the challenges foreign residents face when opening bank accounts in Japan.

Declan Somers, Chief Executive Officer of Mobal Communications, the owner of MobalPay, shares his unique journey to & from Japan to Ireland, working in telecoms, and their impactful work in Malawi.

The discussion dives into the features and impact of their mobile pay product, how it aids the foreign community in Japan, and their charitable coffee business supporting Malawian children.

Key topics include the transition from physical SIM cards to eSIMs, the integration of point systems for payments, and the growing importance of Asian residents in Japan.

Declan also addresses fraud prevention, the benefits of prepaid cards, and the significance of trust and physical presence in financial services.

Produced in collaboration with Tokyo FinTech. If you have an interesting story to share with our audience, and would like to appear on the podcast, please contact us via 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We also publish a weekly LinkedIn newsletter, the "Japan FinTech Observer", which we invite you to subscribe to: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7048203270833524736/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on....

Home Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tokyofintech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/tokyofintech/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/TokyoFinTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Blog: https://www.fintechobserver.com

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/tokyofintech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Meetup: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lu.ma/japanfintechobserver?utm_source=spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This panel at the WebX conference held on August 28 & 29 in.Tokyo focuses on the intersection of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and digital assets, exploring the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency investment products.

The speakers, representing a diverse range of financial and blockchain companies, discuss the implications of crypto ETFs, the regulatory environment surrounding these products, and the broader impact on both traditional finance and the digital asset ecosystem.

They share insights on market trends, investor sentiment, and the potential future of tokenized securities and digital asset investment vehicles.

Produced in collaboration with Tokyo FinTech. If you have an interesting story to share with our audience, and would like to appear on the podcast, please contact us via 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We also publish a weekly LinkedIn newsletter, the "Japan FinTech Observer", which we invite you to subscribe to: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7048203270833524736/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on....

Home Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tokyofintech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/tokyofintech/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/TokyoFinTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Medium: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://medium.com/tokyo-fintech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/tokyofintech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Meetup: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lu.ma/japanfintechobserver?utm_source=spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠