Sota Watanabe

Sota Watanabe is a pioneering force in the global Web3 ecosystem and one of Japan’s most influential tech entrepreneurs. As the Founder and CEO of Startale Group, Watanabe leads visionary efforts to build the foundational infrastructure for a decentralized internet with the overarching mission of bringing the world onchain. Watanabe first gained prominence through his leadership of Astar Network, Japan’s largest public blockchain, which has become a cornerstone of the country’s Web3 infrastructure. A notable milestone in Watanabe’s career is the co‑development of Soneium, an Ethereum Layer‑2 blockchain created in partnership with Sony Block Solutions Labs and supported by broader Sony Group collaborations. This initiative positions Japanese blockchain technology at the intersection of consumer entertainment, AI and mass adoption. In the realm of tokenized digital assets and real‑world finance, Watanabe has steered strategic partnerships with SBI Holdings to advance innovative infrastructure including a fully compliant Japanese yen‑denominated stablecoin and development of a blockchain optimised for tokenized stocks and real‑world assets.