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Metaplanet Becomes Sixth-Largest Public Bitcoin Holder With $1.45 Billion Raise
Metaplanet, a Tokyo-listed company, has doubled down on its Bitcoin strategy with a massive $1.45 billion share sale, marking one of the largest corporate treasury shifts in Japan’s history.
Billion-Dollar Raise Targets Bitcoin
The share offering, formally priced at ¥553 per share ($3.73), will issue 385 million shares for a total raise of ¥212.9 billion ($1.45 billion). After expenses, ¥204.1 billion ($1.39 billion) will remain, with ¥183.7 billion ($1.25 billion) allocated directly to Bitcoin purchases and ¥20.4 billion ($139 million) reserved for income-generating operations.
In its notice, Metaplanet cited concerns over rising national debt, prolonged negative interest rates, and the weakening yen as core reasons for making Bitcoin its treasury reserve asset—a strategy first adopted by the firm in April 2023.
From Turbulence to Execution
The move follows a September 1 shareholder vote that approved an overseas issuance of up to 550 million new shares. That decision came after Metaplanet’s stock had plunged 54% since mid-June, driven by financing pressures and volatile market conditions.
This week’s filing finalizes that authorization, pushing the plan into formal execution. Metaplanet now holds 20,136 BTC valued at $2.25 billion, following the addition of 136 Bitcoin earlier this week.
Sixth-Largest Corporate Bitcoin Holder
With its latest allocation, Metaplanet ranks as the sixth-largest public corporate holder of Bitcoin, ahead of Tesla, Coinbase, and Trump Media & Technology Group, but behind firms like MicroStrategy, Marathon, and Twenty One.
Dan Dadybayo, research and strategy lead at Unstoppable Wallet, described the move as “a signal from Japan that corporate Bitcoin adoption is spreading globally, not just in the U.S.” He added that corporate treasuries are shifting from experiment to mainstream strategy, with expectations that public companies could collectively hold over 1 million BTC by year-end.
Bitcoin Integration Gains Global Momentum
This trend comes as BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) cements its position as the most profitable ETF in the asset manager’s history, surpassing even its S&P 500 flagship (IVV). IBIT, which has crossed $80 billion in assets under management, is also the fastest-growing ETF ever recorded, reflecting the rising mainstream acceptance of Bitcoin.
As Dadybayo summed it up: “From pension funds to hedge funds, the direction of travel is clear—a deeper integration of Bitcoin into traditional finance.”
