Bitcoin News Today: Metaplanet and Semler Scientific Accelerate Bitcoin Accumulation

Metaplanet and Semler Scientific are at the forefront of a new corporate Bitcoin arms race, both publicly listed and aggressively acquiring Bitcoin to bolster their treasuries. On July 7, 2025, Metaplanet, based in Tokyo, added 2,205 BTC, valued at around $238.7 million, bringing its total holdings to 15,555 BTC, worth approximately $1.7 billion. Its BTC Yield, a metric measuring Bitcoin acquired relative to equity issued, stands at 416%. Meanwhile, Semler Scientific, a health-tech firm listed on the Nasdaq, acquired 187 BTC, valued at around $20 million, increasing its treasury to 4,636 BTC, worth around $502 million, with a BTC Yield of 29%.

Metaplanet and Semler Scientific have distinct starting points but share a common goal of accumulating significant amounts of Bitcoin. Metaplanet, formerly involved in hospitality and media, shifted its focus entirely to Bitcoin in 2024, aiming to accumulate 210,000 BTC by 2027, about 1% of the total supply. The company funds this strategy by issuing preferred equity, avoiding debt, and plans to use its Bitcoin reserves as collateral for acquiring fintechs or a licensed digital bank. Semler Scientific, on the other hand, entered the Bitcoin space in mid-2024, aiming to reach 10,000 BTC by the end of 2025 and 105,000 BTC by 2027. It is using a $500-million equity issuance plan, with $156 million raised as of mid-2025, and has hired Joe Burnett, a former mining analyst, as its director of Bitcoin strategy.

Both companies are using public equity to fund their Bitcoin acquisitions, but their approaches differ. Metaplanet's July purchase of 2,205 BTC was significantly larger than Semler's 187-BTC buy. Metaplanet's BTC Yield of 416% indicates it is issuing fewer shares per BTC acquired, which is beneficial if Bitcoin's price rises but risky if it falls. Semler's slower pace reduces dilution risk but makes it more exposed to market sentiment, with its stock forecast weakening due to its close tracking of BTC's price. Despite these differences, both companies are actively buying Bitcoin, positioning themselves as frontrunners in corporate Bitcoin accumulation in a year dominated by Bitcoin ETF updates.

As public companies ramp up their Bitcoin purchases in 2025, concerns about rising risks, criticism, and valuation issues are emerging. As of mid-2025, public companies hold over 852,000 BTC, with Metaplanet and Semler Scientific contributing significantly to this figure. Metaplanet's aggressive strategy, which includes no debt and no plans to sell BTC, is being compared to Strategy's approach, but Metaplanet is forging its own path. Semler, while more measured, faces concerns about its ability to raise capital without excessive dilution, with its share price down 41% this year. VanEck analysts have warned that if performance doesn't recover, Semler's model may stall. Additionally, the BTC Yield metric has been criticized for disguising risk and overstating success, raising concerns that companies are chasing optics over fundamentals.

Strategy remains the leader with 601,550 BTC, but Metaplanet and Semler Scientific are rapidly catching up. If they succeed, they will join the top tier of Bitcoin whale companies alongside national governments and ETFs. However, this path is fraught with challenges, including volatile capital markets and Bitcoin's price fluctuations. Both companies' stock prices now closely follow Bitcoin's performance, creating growth opportunities during bull markets but fragility during downturns. There is also a risk of regulatory intervention if public companies start acting like Bitcoin ETFs, especially if their treasury activities overshadow their core operations. Metaplanet's speed and Semler's discipline represent two sides of the same shift, with the Bitcoin treasury war focusing on who can survive the long game rather than who entered first.