Hong Kong-based Animoca Brands has joined forces with Ibex Japan to establish a Web3 entertainment investment fund that seeks to bring underutilized Japanese anime and manga intellectual property into blockchain-powered platforms. The initiative was officially introduced during the WebX conference in Tokyo, where Animoca’s co-founder and chairman Yat Siu, senior adviser Keyvan Peymani, and Ibex Japan partner Sandeep Casi presented the details.
The project focuses on revitalizing Japanese creative content that has largely remained inactive in traditional formats. According to the announcement, a vast majority of existing IP remains untapped, leaving significant potential for monetization and global distribution. The fund aims to leverage blockchain technology to transform this dormant value into new forms of digital ownership and interactive experiences.
Unlocking global opportunities
During the presentation, Sandeep Casi emphasized that most Japanese creative franchises are currently idle despite their inherent worth. He highlighted the global reach of related ventures, pointing to international networks, billions in assets under management, and a vast pool of entrepreneurs as the foundation for scaling the initiative across multiple markets.
The anime sector itself is positioned for substantial growth. Current estimates place the global anime market at around 34 billion US dollars, with projections suggesting it could exceed 70 billion US dollars by 2032. Analysts attribute this expansion to the rise of digital-first distribution models and the growing appeal of emerging channels such as blockchain-based experiences.
Anime and manga-themed NFTs have already gained momentum with younger demographics, establishing themselves as one of the most accessible forms of blockchain-linked cultural content. Recent market figures indicate a resurgence in NFT activity, with capitalization reaching 9.3 billion US dollars in August 2025—a 40 percent rise from July. This renewed demand has been closely linked to Ethereum’s surge in value, which recently hit an all-time high of nearly 5,000 US dollars.
We announced at @WebX_Asia a partnership with Ibex, the corporate innovation arm of global VC @AntlerGlobal, to launch a dedicated fund to bring Japan’s anime and manga IP on-chain ⛓️ pic.twitter.com/hUUABjWyQ9
— Animoca Brands (@animocabrands) August 26, 2025
Strategic goals and upcoming investments
The new entertainment investment fund will be jointly managed by Casi and Peymani, who are set to act as co-general partners. Their strategy involves licensing long-neglected Japanese franchises and financing the development of new blockchain-native entertainment products. The goal is to create a bridge between traditional intellectual property holders and Web3 platforms that can host digital collectibles, immersive fan experiences, and innovative monetization models.
Initial investment targets are expected to be revealed in the near future, marking the first phase of the initiative’s rollout. Industry analysts believe the fund could help transform the way Japanese anime and manga are distributed and consumed, providing creators with broader exposure while offering fans interactive ownership opportunities.
Anime meets Web3 adoption trends
The launch comes at a time when NFTs are regaining attention in global markets, buoyed by cryptocurrency price movements and renewed investor interest. This broader trend provides favorable conditions for Web3-linked entertainment ventures, particularly those tied to cultural exports like Japanese anime and manga, which already enjoy widespread popularity worldwide.
Observers noted that if the fund succeeds in its mission, it could set a precedent for how traditional intellectual property is integrated into blockchain ecosystems. By bridging cultural heritage with digital innovation, Animoca Brands and Ibex Japan are positioning themselves at the intersection of content and technology, aiming to unlock long-term value from Japan’s rich creative legacy.
