Bitcoin News Today: Metaplanet and Smarter Web Add $100M in Bitcoin to Corporate Holdings

Two publicly listed companies—Japan’s Metaplanet and the United Kingdom’s The Smarter Web Company—have added nearly $100 million in Bitcoin to their corporate treasuries, signaling continued institutional confidence in the cryptocurrency as a strategic asset. The move elevates both firms’ Bitcoin holdings and positions them among the top corporate Bitcoin holders globally [1].

Metaplanet, a Tokyo-listed firm, disclosed on Tuesday that it had purchased 518 Bitcoin (BTC) for approximately $61.4 million, at an average price of $118,519 per coin. This acquisition increases its total Bitcoin holdings to 18,113 BTC, valued at around $2.15 billion at current prices, with an average purchase price of $101,911 per coin. The company is now ranked sixth globally in public company Bitcoin holdings, trailing behind entities such as Michael Saylor’s MicroStrategy, MARA, XXI, Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company, and Riot Platforms [1].

The latest purchase follows Metaplanet’s announcement earlier in the month of a plan to raise up to ¥555 billion ($3.7 billion) through the issuance of perpetual preferred shares to support its broader acquisition strategy. This further demonstrates the company’s long-term commitment to Bitcoin as a core component of its financial strategy.

Meanwhile, The Smarter Web Company, a London-listed firm engaged in web design and Bitcoin treasury management, announced on Tuesday that it had acquired 295 BTC for 26.3 million pounds ($35.2 million), at an average price of $119,412 per coin. Part of the funding came from a $10.2 million equity raise completed the previous day. The Smarter Web also raised $21 million through a Bitcoin-denominated convertible bond offering last week [1].

This acquisition brings the firm’s total Bitcoin holdings to 2,395 BTC, with a total acquisition cost of $264.8 million and a current valuation of approximately $284.8 million, yielding an unrealized gain of about $20 million. The Smarter Web has also seen a significant jump in its global rankings, moving from 36th to 23rd place, and is aiming to enter the top 20 in the coming weeks.

Collectively, corporate Bitcoin treasuries have surpassed $100 billion, with public companies holding 791,662 BTC as of July, representing nearly 4% of the total circulating supply. The growing adoption of Bitcoin by corporations reflects broader recognition of its role as a hedge against macroeconomic volatility and a diversification tool for institutional portfolios [1].

However, some analysts have raised concerns about the concentration of Bitcoin in corporate hands, suggesting it could create a central point of vulnerability for the asset. Crypto analyst Willy Woo has speculated that the U.S. government could one day move to nationalize corporate Bitcoin holdings, drawing parallels to the 1971 suspension of the gold standard under President Richard Nixon. Such a move, he argues, could centralize control over Bitcoin in a manner similar to how gold convertibility was effectively ended [1].

Source:

[1] Cointelegraph, Metaplanet, Smarter Web Add $100M in Bitcoin to Corporate Treasuries

https://cointelegraph.com/news/metaplanet-smarter-web-add-100m-bitcoin-treasuries