Key Takeaways
- • Hashed Ventures secures strategic investment from SMBC Nikko Securities (Mitsui Sumitomo Financial Group affiliate) in Hashed Venture Fund III, marking the first-ever Korean venture capital investment from a major Japanese financial institution into a Korean blockchain VC firm.
- • SMBC Nikko's investment signals institutional finance crossover into Web3, with the Japanese financial group establishing the Nikko Open Innovation Lab (NOIL) to develop blockchain initiatives, including the "Proof of Japan" project combining Japanese cultural assets with global NFT opportunities.
- • Hashed positions itself as a bridge between traditional Asian finance and decentralized technology, with CEO Kim Seo-joon emphasizing the partnership will "accelerate the growth of the Asian Web3 ecosystem" through SMBC's 100+ year institutional network and Hashed's global blockchain portfolio.
- • Hashed operates as a multi-stage blockchain investment platform with headquarters in Seoul and offices across San Francisco and Singapore, focusing on early-stage founders in blockchain, cryptocurrency, and AI-integrated Web3 infrastructure.
Summary
Hashed Ventures announced on September 5, 2026, that it has attracted strategic investment in Hashed Venture Fund III from SMBC Nikko Securities, the securities affiliate of Mitsui Sumitomo Financial Group (SMFG), one of Japan's three major financial institutions. This investment represents the first instance of a major Japanese financial player backing a Korean blockchain-focused venture capital firm, signifying a significant institutional pivot toward Web3 infrastructure within traditional Asian finance.
The investment was facilitated through SMBC Nikko's newly established Nikko Open Innovation Lab (NOIL), a dedicated business division tasked with developing blockchain and Web3 initiatives. Within NOIL, the Punderstorm team is spearheading the "Proof of Japan" project, which integrates Japanese cultural assets with global NFT frameworks and explores blockchain-based provenance tracking. SMBC Nikko is leveraging its century-old institutional credibility to actively participate in regulatory framework establishment and education infrastructure for Japan's Web3 industry.
According to Hashed's analysis, SMBC Nikko's investment decision reflects the financial institution's strategic interest in Web3 and blockchain sectors as growth vectors. The bank expects significant synergy through collaboration with Hashed, which maintains an extensive network across the global Web3 ecosystem. Kim Seo-joon, CEO of Hashed, commented that the partnership is "very meaningful" given that Japan's leading financial institutions now align with Hashed's philosophical and operational vision, positioning the collaboration as a catalyst for accelerating Asian Web3 ecosystem development.
Hashed itself operates as a global, early-stage venture fund headquartered in Seoul with regional offices in San Francisco and Singapore. The firm specializes in backing founders pioneering blockchain technology, cryptocurrency infrastructure, and increasingly AI-integrated Web3 applications. Beyond direct investment, Hashed functions as a project accelerator and community builder, hosting events such as the Blockchain Leaders Summit Tokyo 2025, which underscores its role as a convener for institutional and emerging players in the decentralized finance space.
The investment was facilitated through SMBC Nikko's newly established Nikko Open Innovation Lab (NOIL), a dedicated business division tasked with developing blockchain and Web3 initiatives. Within NOIL, the Punderstorm team is spearheading the "Proof of Japan" project, which integrates Japanese cultural assets with global NFT frameworks and explores blockchain-based provenance tracking. SMBC Nikko is leveraging its century-old institutional credibility to actively participate in regulatory framework establishment and education infrastructure for Japan's Web3 industry.
According to Hashed's analysis, SMBC Nikko's investment decision reflects the financial institution's strategic interest in Web3 and blockchain sectors as growth vectors. The bank expects significant synergy through collaboration with Hashed, which maintains an extensive network across the global Web3 ecosystem. Kim Seo-joon, CEO of Hashed, commented that the partnership is "very meaningful" given that Japan's leading financial institutions now align with Hashed's philosophical and operational vision, positioning the collaboration as a catalyst for accelerating Asian Web3 ecosystem development.
Hashed itself operates as a global, early-stage venture fund headquartered in Seoul with regional offices in San Francisco and Singapore. The firm specializes in backing founders pioneering blockchain technology, cryptocurrency infrastructure, and increasingly AI-integrated Web3 applications. Beyond direct investment, Hashed functions as a project accelerator and community builder, hosting events such as the Blockchain Leaders Summit Tokyo 2025, which underscores its role as a convener for institutional and emerging players in the decentralized finance space.
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