Bitcoin News Today: A Bitcoin treasury pioneer claims its place in Japan’s financial mainstream

Metaplanet, a Tokyo-listed company that has rebranded itself as a Bitcoin treasury firm, has been upgraded from a small-cap to a mid-cap stock by FTSE Russell in its September 2025 semi-annual review. As a result, the company has been added to the FTSE Japan Index, a benchmark for large- and mid-cap Japanese firms. This inclusion will automatically add Metaplanet to the FTSE All-World Index, broadening its exposure to global investors and redirecting capital flows into Bitcoin from traditional equity markets. The move is expected to attract passive investment flows and provide indirect exposure to Bitcoin for index-tracking funds.

The inclusion follows Metaplanet’s strong Q2 performance, which saw the company outperform the TOPIX Core 30 index by a significant margin. Year-to-date gains for Metaplanet reached approximately 187% in August, compared to a 7.2% increase for the TOPIX Core 30. The company, which holds 18,991 BTC in its treasury, is now the seventh-largest publicly listed Bitcoin holder globally, according to BitcoinTreasuries. This positions it ahead of major technology and manufacturing firms listed on Japanese exchanges and places it ahead of well-known crypto entities such as Coinbase and Tesla in terms of Bitcoin holdings.

Metaplanet’s aggressive Bitcoin accumulation strategy has been financed through a combination of share issuances and bond redemptions. Recent disclosures indicate that the company has raised $1.95 billion through its stock options and other capital market instruments, with the proceeds used to fund additional Bitcoin purchases. The company’s balance sheet management also includes strategic bond redemptions, such as the recent $20.4 million redemption of its 19th Series Ordinary Bonds. These actions underscore Metaplanet’s commitment to maintaining a lean capital structure while expanding its Bitcoin holdings.

Analysts have noted that Metaplanet’s inclusion in the FTSE Japan Index signals growing institutional acceptance of Bitcoin treasury strategies. Vincent Liu, CIO at Kronos Research, stated that the inclusion creates a “regulated route for BTC exposures” and could channel institutional capital into Metaplanet, boosting liquidity and long-term stability. Ryan Yoon, senior analyst at Tiger Research, emphasized that Metaplanet’s inclusion reflects a neutral approach by index providers, with the company likely evaluated based on market capitalization and trading volume rather than its Bitcoin holdings. This suggests that the broader financial market may be slowly integrating cryptocurrencies into traditional asset classes without overtly endorsing them.

Metaplanet’s CEO, Simon Gerovich, has outlined an ambitious roadmap for the company, including a target to accumulate 210,000 BTC by 2027—approximately 1% of Bitcoin’s total supply. Gerovich has also hinted at potential expansion into adjacent financial services, including digital banking or income-generating business acquisitions. These plans align with Japan’s broader efforts to integrate digital assets into its financial system, including proposed reforms to cryptocurrency taxation and the potential introduction of crypto ETFs. The Financial Services Agency (FSA) is currently reviewing a framework that would reduce the tax burden on crypto gains and reclassify cryptocurrencies as financial products, bringing them in line with traditional assets.

The company’s inclusion in major indices and its strategic acquisitions highlight the growing role of Bitcoin in corporate treasury management, particularly in Japan. As institutional and retail investors continue to seek alternative assets with long-term value preservation, Metaplanet’s approach could serve as a model for other firms considering Bitcoin as part of their investment strategy. This trend is likely to gain momentum as regulatory clarity and market infrastructure continue to evolve, further embedding digital assets into the global financial landscape.

Source:

[1] Metaplanet Added to FTSE Japan All-World Stock Indices (https://cointelegraph.com/news/metaplanet-added-ftse-japan-all-world-stock-indices)

[2] Metaplanet Joins FTSE Japan Index, Continues to Stack Bitcoin (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/metaplanet-joins-ftse-japan-index-063327830.html)

[3] Metaplanet Joins FTSE Japan Index: Upgraded to Mid-Cap (https://www.mitrade.com/insights/news/live-news/article-3-1065652-20250825)

[4] Metaplanet Adds $11.7 million Worth of Bitcoin, Gains Mid-Cap Upgrade (https://www.theblock.co/post/368062/metaplanet-buys-103-btc)

[5] Metaplanet Pushes Bitcoin Holdings Higher With Fresh $11.8M Buy, Now Holds Near 19K BTC (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/metaplanet-pushes-bitcoin-holdings-higher-051520918.html)