Bitcoin News Today: Metaplanet's Bitcoin Bet: Why Japan's "MicroStrategy" Keeps Buying Up the Blockchain

Metaplanet Inc. has significantly expanded its Bitcoin holdings, acquiring an additional 103 tokens for approximately ¥1.73 billion (about $11.8 million) in a continued effort to position Bitcoin as a core corporate reserve asset. The Tokyo-listed company now holds 18,991 Bitcoin in total, purchased at an average price of ¥15.05 million per coin, with the current value of its stash exceeding $2.14 billion at current exchange rates. This move is part of the firm’s formalized “Bitcoin Treasury Operations” strategy, launched in April 2024 to rapidly accumulate Bitcoin through capital market activities such as share issuances and bond programs. The company also redeemed ¥3 billion (about $20.4 million) of its 19th Series Ordinary Bonds as part of balance sheet optimization, signaling a dual focus on reducing liabilities while increasing Bitcoin exposure.

The latest Bitcoin purchase follows an earlier acquisition of 775 tokens in late July, underscoring Metaplanet’s aggressive accumulation pace. This strategy has drawn comparisons to MicroStrategy, the U.S.-based software company that pioneered corporate Bitcoin treasury holdings. Metaplanet has also been dubbed “Asia’s MicroStrategy” by industry analysts for its bold financial engineering and long-term vision to maximize Bitcoin per share. In recent months, the company has issued over 4.9 million new shares through warrant exercises, raising capital that is directly funneled into Bitcoin purchases.

Metaplanet’s approach has led to unique performance metrics, including “BTC Yield” and “BTC Gain,” which measure shareholder value in Bitcoin terms rather than traditional profit and loss. In the quarter to date, the company reported a 29.1% BTC Yield, despite equity dilution from its capital-raising initiatives. Its treasury strategy is further supported by Japan’s evolving regulatory environment, which has encouraged institutional investment in digital assets. The company has also benefited from its inclusion in the FTSE Japan Index, upgrading its stock from small-cap to mid-cap status in the September 2025 semi-annual review by FTSE Russell. This upgrade is expected to attract passive capital flows into Bitcoin through index tracking funds, potentially supporting BTC floor prices.

The company’s stock has outperformed traditional Japanese benchmarks. Year-to-date through August, Metaplanet’s shares rose nearly 187%, significantly outpacing the 7.2% YTD appreciation of the TOPIX Core 30 index. Despite recent volatility in the Bitcoin market, including a brief drop below $112,000 to a six-week low, Metaplanet remains committed to its long-term Bitcoin accumulation target of 210,000 tokens by 2027—approximately 1% of the total 21 million Bitcoin supply. CEO Simon Gerovich has also indicated that the company may explore acquiring income-generating businesses, including digital banks, to further diversify its operations.

Metaplanet’s strategy reflects a broader trend among Japanese firms investing in Bitcoin as part of their corporate treasury diversification. In the same week as Metaplanet’s latest purchase, other Japanese companies including Remixpoint and ANAP added a combined total of 156.79 BTC to their reserves, highlighting Japan’s growing role in corporate crypto adoption. The company ranks seventh globally among publicly traded firms in Bitcoin holdings, according to data from BitcoinTreasuries, and is now the largest Bitcoin treasury holder in Japan. Its aggressive purchases have been made at an average cost of $102,712 per coin, with the current value of its holdings significantly higher at over $113,000 per token.

Despite recent market fluctuations, Metaplanet’s management remains confident in Bitcoin’s long-term value preservation properties compared to fiat cash reserves. The company’s strategy, anchored by disciplined financing and a focus on Bitcoin per share growth, has attracted attention from investors and analysts alike. With Japan emerging as a key player in the global crypto landscape and institutional interest in Bitcoin continuing to rise, Metaplanet’s bold approach to corporate treasury management appears set to shape the broader market dynamics.

Source:

[1] 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)

[2] Japanese Firms Add 156.79 BTC as Bitcoin Drags (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/japanese-firms-add-156-79-145338644.html)

[3] Bitcoin Shatters $124,000 Record as $15 Billion Digital Treasury Wave Transforms Corporate America (https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bitcoin-shatters-124-000-record-as-15-billion-digital-treasury-wave-transforms-corporate-america-302539145.html)

[4] Bitcoin treasury firm Metaplanet graduates to FTSE Japan (https://cointelegraph.com/news/metaplanet-added-ftse-japan-all-world-stock-indices)

[5] Bitcoin Price 'Flash Crash' Panic Suddenly Wipes $100 Billion From Crypto Market (https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2025/08/25/bitcoin-price-flash-crash-panic-suddenly-wipes-100-billion-from-crypto-market/)