HashPort, a Web3 Business, Announces Series C 1st Close with Funding of Approximately 900 Million Yen from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Tokyo University Edge Capital Partners ~Aiming to Support Companies Entering the Web3 Space and to Strengthen Development of Web3 Products Utilizing Large-Scale IPs Originating from Japan~

HashPort Inc. (CEO: Seihaku Yoshida, hereinafter collectively referred to as the "HashPort Group"), is pleased to announce that it has successfully raised funds through a third-party allotment of approximately JPY 900 million, with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (President and CEO: Makoto Takashima) and UTEC4 Investment Limited Partnership (President and CEO: Tomotaka Goji) as the underwriters.

■The background and purpose of this fundraising

HashPort Group has been engaged in research and development of blockchain technology since 2018. Under the umbrella of HashPort, which conducts blockchain-related consulting and system solutions, there are two subsidiaries, HashPalette, mainly engaged in NFT-related business, and HashBank, mainly engaged in financial infrastructure business, and the group as a whole is promoting the creation of a token economy in the Web3 era. The funds obtained through this fundraising will be used to make the following investments: 1. Investment in strengthening enterprise consulting business: HashPort Group provides consulting and system solutions for the implementation of social infrastructure in the Web3 era, utilizing blockchain technologies such as SBT and NFT. This investment will be used for recruitment of human resources in the SBT and Web3 fields, which will enable the group to support companies that aim to enter the Web3 field and utilize SBT more strongly, and to play a role in connecting Web3 and the actual economy. 2. Investment in strengthening IP x NFT business: HashPalette, a subsidiary of HashPort, has been developing a blockchain network "Palette" optimized for NFT circulation, an NFT marketplace "PLT Place", and NFT products that utilize Japanese IP, such as blockchain games. This investment will be used to acquire large Japanese IPs and to develop products on Palette that utilize these IPs, aiming to create new business opportunities and to expand the NFT market. 3. Investment in strengthening the overall group's internal management system: HashPort Group has established management departments including multiple in-house attorneys to conduct business in strict compliance with regulations. This investment will be utilized to enhance compliance and corporate governance, in preparation for expansion and public listing of the company.

■Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Profile

Company name : Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Location : 1-1-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Representative : Makoto Takashima, President and CEO Establishment : June 6, 1996 Business Overview : Banking business URL : https://www.smbc.co.jp/

■UTEC No. 4 Investment Limited Partnership Profile

Fund size: Approx. 24.3 billion yen Established : January 17, 2018 Management Company : The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners, Inc. Representative : Tomotaka Goji, President and CEO Location : 3F, South Research Building (Entrepreneur Lab), University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Business Overview : Investment in venture companies that utilize technology and human resources of the University of Tokyo and other universities and research institutions URL : https://www.ut-ec.co.jp/english/

■HashPort Group Profile

Company name: HashPort Inc. Location: EDGE Shiba 4-chome Bldg. 10F, 4-5-10 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo Representative: CEO Seihaku Yoshida Establishment : July 13, 2018 Business Overview : Web3 related consulting Support for entry into the Web3 field, including NFT and SBT Token design and IEO support (domestic/overseas) Blockchain code review support URL: https://hashport.io/en/ Company name: HashPalette Inc. Location: EDGE Shiba 4-chome Bldg. 10F, 4-5-10 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo Representative: Seihaku Yoshida, Representative Director and CEO Establishment : March 2, 2020 Business Overview : Development of NFT operation technology infrastructure Development of NFT-specific blockchain infrastructure Development of NFT marketplace Development of NFT-enabled content (games, etc.) URL : https://hashpalette.com/en Company Name : HashBank Inc. Location: EDGE Shiba 4-chome Bldg. 10F, 4-5-10 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo Representative: Kazuyuki Tsuji, CEO Establishment : April 15, 2022 Business Overview : Web3 Solution Development Development of digital asset storage technology for enterprises Development of Wallet related systems Development of Web3 related systems URL : https://hashbank.co.jp/