PRESS RELEASE. Coincheck, Inc., a Japanese cryptocurrency exchange that offers Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), and other cryptocurrencies, announced on January 28 the launch of "Coincheck Labs," a program to support startups that will lead the Web 3.0 era. Stake Technologies Pte. Ltd., which is involved in the Astar Network, a Japanese public blockchain, will receive the first investment from Coincheck in this program.



Currently, “Web 3.0”, the decentralized digital age based on blockchain, is a worldwide movement, and investment in startups driving Web 3.0, including those related to crypto-assets and NFT, is accelerating. On the other hand, in Japan, crypto assets and NFTs fields lack clear accounting and legal rules. The level of expertise required to start a business is considered high, resulting in a shortage of entrepreneurs compared to other countries. Under such circumstances, Coincheck will share its experience and know-how in the development and operation of the crypto asset trading service “Coincheck” and the NFT marketplace “Coincheck NFT (beta version)” through “Coincheck Labs,” thereby contributing to the development of the “Web 3.0” movement. Coincheck would like to support startups related to crypto-assets and NFT.



With the rise of DeFi in 2020 and the rapid growth of NFT in 2021, “crypto-asset native applications” that use crypto assets, a protocol for transferring value, as a matter of course, have developed rapidly over the past few years and are creating a new economic sphere in the digital world. At Coincheck, the team hopes to revitalize the crypto asset and NFT industry in Japan at this significant turning point with our colleagues who will take up the challenge together.



Main Activities of Coincheck Labs



Coincheck Labs supports the growth of Japan’s blockchain and Web 3.0 ecosystem by supporting entrepreneurs, startups and communities with crypto-asset native and NFT native products from the core area of blockchain called Layer 1. The company provides “startup support,” “research,” and “investment” for products ranging from application areas.



(1) Startup Support



Coincheck supports entrepreneurs, startups, and communities that drive the growth of the crypto asset and NFT industry in Japan. Specifically, we will provide advice on token design, finance and accounting and manage events such as hackathons.



(2) Research



Research and disseminate information on crypto assets, NFT, GameFi and other blockchain trends, etc.



(3) Investment



Investing in equity and tokens in startups that develop crypto-asset native and NFT native products



About Coincheck Inc.



Trade name: Coincheck, Inc.



Headquarters: E-Space Tower 12F, 3-6 Maruyamacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0044, Japan



Established: August 28, 2012



President: Satoshi Hasuo



Registered as a crypto-asset exchange business: Director of Kanto Local Finance Bureau No. 00014



Services offered (These services are available only to residents of Japan except miime.)



Coincheck https://coincheck.com



Coincheck Lending Virtual Currency Service https://coincheck.com/ja/lending



Coincheck Electric https://coincheck.com/ja/denki



Coincheck Gas https://coincheck.com/ja/gas



Coincheck Advance Payment https://coincheck.com/ja/reserves_lp



Coincheck NFT (beta) https://nft.coincheck.com/



Coincheck Surveys https://coincheck.com/ja/survey



Sharely, a shareholder meeting support service https://sharely.app/



miime (Coincheck Technologies Inc.) https://miime.io/ja/