At the WebX 2025 conference in Tokyo, blockchain payments were a central topic, focusing on their relevance and challenges facing the industry.
Introduction to Blockchain Payments
On the main stage of WebX 2025, leaders from Trust Wallet, Japan Smart Chain, and UPCX raised the question of how to make blockchain payments a part of daily life. They discussed three main hurdles: self-custody, transaction costs, and cross-chain interoperability.
Challenges and Solutions for Blockchain Payments
Aoyin Chen, the CEO of Trust Wallet, noted that despite over 200 million downloads, the biggest issue remains the user experience with blockchain. He emphasized the need to eliminate technical barriers. Japan Smart Chain offers compliance with local regulations by implementing on-chain identity and compliance modules. Russell Kummer from UPCX cited his company’s $2.7 billion acquisition and outlined pathways to create minimal payment apps.
Future Perspectives and Payment Models
The leaders agreed that to integrate blockchain payments into everyday life, three gates must be crossed: self-custody and key management, transaction costs, and cross-chain interoperability. The solution lies not in replacing existing systems but in working with them. Long-term, they see potential in new business models such as smart-contract subscriptions and AI-driven personal finance that could deliver significantly higher value.
The conclusion of the conference leads to the thought that overcoming the discussed barriers before 2026 may lead to the real adoption of blockchain payments in the lives of Japanese consumers.
