Key Takeaways
- Animoca Brands has partnered with Antler’s Ibex Japan to launch a new Web3 entertainment fund dedicated to bringing Japan’s iconic anime and manga intellectual property (IP) on-chain.
- The initiative aims to license “dormant” Japanese IP and back new Web3 projects, extending beyond gaming to include fintech and healthcare applications.
- The announcement, made at the WebX conference in Tokyo, highlights a growing trend of institutional and corporate interest in tokenization, with major players like Kraken also meeting with the SEC about their own plans.
In a landmark announcement at the WebX conference in Tokyo, Web3 powerhouse Animoca Brands has partnered with Antler’s Ibex Japan to launch a dedicated investment fund.
The fund’s mission is to unlock the immense value of Japan’s vast library of anime and manga intellectual property (IP) by bringing it on-chain. This collaboration aims to create new digital products and services that go beyond traditional merchandise and embrace the immersive.
Unlocking Dormant Intellectual Property
The core mission of the new fund is to license and monetize what Ibex Japan partner Sandeep Casi described as “90% to 99% of Japan’s IP… lying dormant on the shelves.”
This underutilized IP will be used to back new projects, from digital collectibles to interactive games, leveraging blockchain to create new revenue streams for IP holders and give fans true digital ownership.
Animoca Brands’ chairman, Yat Siu, emphasized that this partnership is about expanding Japanese IP globally and will go beyond gaming to include sectors such as fintech, healthcare, and medtech.
A Broader Trend of Tokenization
This announcement coincides with a resurgence in the NFT market and a broader global trend of institutional entities exploring asset tokenization.
This is underscored by news of crypto exchange Kraken meeting with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to discuss its own tokenized trading system.
Kraken has already launched a tokenized stock service for non-U.S. investors, allowing 24/7 trading of U.S. equities. This, along with similar services from Robinhood in Europe, signals a clear move toward a future where traditional financial assets are tokenized on a blockchain.
Final Thoughts
The partnership between Animoca Brands and Antler represents a significant step forward for the Web3 industry. By focusing on a globally adored cultural category like Japanese anime and manga, the fund has the potential to onboard a new generation of users and showcase the tangible value of Web3 technology beyond simple speculation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Web3 and how does it relate to this partnership? Web3 is the next generation of the internet that uses blockchain technology to enable decentralization and user ownership. The partnership will use Web3 to bring Japanese IP on-chain, creating new products and digital assets.
What does it mean to bring IP “on-chain”?
Bringing IP “on-chain” refers to managing and verifying intellectual property rights on a blockchain, often through NFTs, which can create a new revenue stream and provide fans with digital ownership.
Why is Kraken meeting with the SEC relevant to this news?
Kraken’s discussion with the SEC about tokenization shows that major financial institutions are actively exploring blockchain technology, highlighting a broader industry-wide trend toward using crypto technology for real-world applications.
