Japan’s world-famous anime and manga industry is preparing for a digital leap, with Animoca Brands joining forces with Ibex Japan to unlock the country’s dormant intellectual property through blockchain.
The announcement came at Tokyo’s WebX conference, where industry leaders pitched the plan as a global Web3 entertainment initiative rather than just another gaming project.
Ibex partner Sandeep Casi argued that almost all of Japan’s creative IP — up to 99% — never leaves the shelves despite its global fan base. He said the new fund would be dedicated to licensing and reviving these unused assets, turning them into blockchain-native products that can reach international audiences. With Antler’s footprint in 22 cities, more than $1 billion in assets under management, and a network of a quarter million entrepreneurs, the venture aims to export Japanese culture far beyond its traditional markets.
Animoca’s chairman Yat Siu explained that the company already operates in Japan through its ABKK subsidiary but views this fund as a broader cultural and technological play. “It’s about expanding Japanese IP into areas people don’t expect,” he said, pointing to fintech, healthcare, and even medtech as potential beneficiaries. The project’s timing is strategic — NFT trading volumes have rebounded strongly this summer, with market capitalization climbing 40% between July and mid-August, according to NFT Price Floor data.
The fund will be managed by Casi and Animoca senior adviser Keyvan Peymani, who will serve as co-general partners. Specific investment targets are expected to be revealed later this year, with the goal of turning underutilized storylines and characters into fresh Web3-native products and services.
The Japanese initiative lands as tokenization makes headlines worldwide. In the United States, crypto exchange Kraken disclosed that it has been in talks with the SEC about its own blockchain-based trading platform. The company already offers tokenized U.S. stock trading to non-U.S. investors and recently expanded the service to the Tron network. Rival Robinhood has rolled out a similar system in Europe.
From Japanese anime IP to Wall Street equities, blockchain is rapidly moving from pilot projects into mainstream industries. For Animoca and Ibex, the bet is clear: the next wave of Web3 growth could be powered by cultural exports as much as financial assets.
