While cryptocurrency projects were traditionally led by startups, the progressive regulatory developments have seen an increasing number of publicly listed companies entering the space. In this interview, we spoke with Masato Kakamu, Chairman of Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers-listed GlobalWay Inc., about the TimeCoin Protocol.
This article is divided into four parts. Part 1 explores why a listed company is venturing into a crypto project and provides an overview of the initiative.
Why Listed Companies Are Embracing Crypto Projects
Introducing Masato Kakamu and Existing Businesses
Interviewer: To begin, could you share your background? You currently serve as Chairman of GlobalWay Inc. and CEO of TimeTicket Inc.—what led to their establishment, and what are their core businesses?
Kakamu: Our mission has always been to empower workers. Many Japanese professionals struggle with self-fulfillment, and we wanted to create a platform to support them.
We founded GlobalWay in 2004 and later spun off TimeTicket in April 2019 as a second venture. While GlobalWay is now led by a new CEO, I focus on TimeTicket, a sharing economy service facilitating skill and experience exchanges between individuals and businesses.
Unlike traditional peer-to-peer transactions, TimeTicket opens up a new marketplace, addressing the opacity in corporate-individual dealings by improving transparency and fair valuations.
Why the Sharing Economy Struggles to Grow
Interviewer: TimeTicket operates in the sharing economy, often hailed as promising—yet adoption remains low. Why?
Kakamu: Currently, only mega-platforms (e.g., Uber, Airbnb, Mercari) thrive because launching a sharing economy business is capital-intensive. Many players, including members of Japan’s Sharing Economy Association, operate at a loss due to high customer acquisition costs (¥500–¥1,500 per user).
Additionally, development costs are steep—requiring engineers, designers, and marketers—with annual expenses reaching ¥30–50M. Even attracting 100K users may yield just 1K transactions, making profitability elusive without scale.
This challenge inspired TimeCoin: Could niche players collaborate to share users and costs?
Introducing TimeCoin
Interviewer: Blockchain applications in the sharing economy aren’t new. Why did TimeTicket adopt this approach?
Kakamu: Existing platforms silo transaction data. TimeCoin Protocol uses blockchain to publicly record transactions and ratings, enabling cross-platform data sharing.
👉 Discover how TimeCoin revolutionizes decentralized sharing
Benefits:
- Users control data visibility, attracting better offers.
- Service providers reduce acquisition costs by pooling customers.
- Developers build apps on TimeCoin’s open protocol, slashing operational expenses (e.g., no 30% platform fees).
Interviewer: Can blockchain alone drive adoption?
Kakamu: Adoption requires market incentives. TimeCoin starts with zero fees, later charging just 5%. Early adopters like eSportStars (an esports platform) and TimeTicket will bootstrap the ecosystem, attracting third-party apps.
Interviewer: How does decentralization add value?
Kakamu: Automation minimizes human intervention (e.g., moderation, dispute resolution), rewarding contributors with TimeCoin tokens. This cuts costs and enables scalability.
Preview: Part 2
In Part 2, we’ll explore:
- TimeCoin’s technical advantages.
- Strategies to accelerate sharing economy adoption.
- Insights into eSportStars, TimeCoin’s first live service.
FAQ
Q1: How does TimeCoin differ from traditional sharing platforms?
TimeCoin decentralizes data and rewards participation, reducing costs and fostering cross-platform collaboration.
Q2: What’s the token’s role?
TimeCoin incentivizes users, service providers, and arbitrators, streamlining operations.
Q3: Can small businesses compete with giants like Uber using TimeCoin?
Yes—by pooling resources and users, niche players can thrive without prohibitive costs.
Resources
- TimeCoin Protocol
- eSportStars
- Follow Masato Kakamu: Twitter
By leveraging blockchain, TimeCoin aims to democratize the sharing economy—making it accessible, scalable, and profitable for all stakeholders.