Metaplanet may acquire digital bank in Japan
Metaplanet eyes digital bank as next step in Bitcoin strategy
Japanese investment firm Metaplanet is preparing to enter a new phase of its aggressive Bitcoin-focused strategy — leveraging its growing BTC reserves to acquire cash-generating businesses, with a digital bank in Japan under active consideration.
In a recent interview, CEO Simon Gerovich said the firm is in a race to accumulate Bitcoin before using it as collateral for expansion, reports Cointelegraph.
“We think of it as a Bitcoin gold rush,” he stated. “We need to accumulate as much Bitcoin as we can… to get to a point where we’ve reached escape velocity.” The firm currently holds 15,555 BTC, valued at over $1.6 billion, and aims to control 210,000 BTC (1% of total supply) by 2027.
Bitcoin as acquisition leverage
Phase two of Metaplanet’s strategy, according to Gerovich, involves deploying Bitcoin like traditional collateral. “We’ll get cash that we can use to buy profitable businesses,” he explained, pointing to digital banking as a natural next step. He envisions providing banking services that outperform Japan’s current retail offerings, leveraging digital infrastructure and crypto-native tools.
This echoes moves by firms like Standard Chartered, which recently piloted institutional crypto-collateralized lending. Though Gerovich ruled out issuing convertible debt, he is considering preferred shares as a fundraising tool. “I don’t want to have to pay back the money in three, four years’ time and have [repayment] linked to an arbitrary share price,” he noted.
Rapid BTC accumulation and investor optimism
On Monday, Metaplanet added 2,204 BTC worth $237 million, purchased at an average price of $107,700. This latest buy pushed the firm’s total Bitcoin holdings to 15,555 BTC, acquired at an average cost of $99,985 per coin. The Tokyo-listed company has already seen its stock soar over 345% year-to-date, lifting its market cap above $7 billion despite relatively modest operating revenue.
Metaplanet’s approach mirrors Michael Saylor’s Strategy, which holds 597,000 BTC and boasts a $112 billion valuation. As traditional capital markets begin to warm to crypto-backed financial tools, Metaplanet is positioning itself as a major institutional force — not just in Bitcoin accumulation, but in shaping a crypto-integrated financial ecosystem within Japan and beyond.
Recently we wrote that Japanese investment firm Metaplanet has significantly expanded its Bitcoin holdings, acquiring an additional 2,205 BTC for approximately $237.9 million.
