Japanese firm Metaplanet is planning to leverage its growing Bitcoin reserves to acquire revenue-generating businesses—potentially including a digital bank in Japan—as part of the next phase of its Bitcoin-centric strategy.
In an interview with the Financial Times, CEO Simon Gerovich revealed the company’s immediate focus is on rapidly accumulating Bitcoin before using it as leverage to fuel expansion.
“We see this as a Bitcoin gold rush,” Gerovich said. “Our goal is to amass as much Bitcoin as possible to reach escape velocity—making it incredibly hard for others to catch up.”
Metaplanet, originally a hotel operator and now listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, began buying Bitcoin in 2024 as a hedge against inflation. The company currently holds 15,555 BTC and aims to increase that number to over 210,000 by 2027—equivalent to 1% of the total Bitcoin supply.
Metaplanet Plans to Leverage Bitcoin for Strategic Acquisitions
In the second phase of its strategy, Metaplanet plans to use its Bitcoin holdings as collateral to secure financing—similar to how securities or government bonds are used. “We’ll get cash that we can use to buy profitable businesses,” said CEO Simon Gerovich.
Future acquisitions, he noted, would align with Metaplanet’s broader vision. “Maybe it’s acquiring a digital bank in Japan and offering digital banking services that are far superior to what retail customers currently receive,” Gerovich explained.
Although crypto-backed lending is still uncommon in traditional finance, interest is growing. In April, Standard Chartered and OKX launched a pilot program enabling institutions to use crypto and tokenized money market funds as collateral.
Gerovich ruled out issuing convertible debt to fund expansion but is open to preferred equity. “I don’t want to be in a position where we have to repay the money in three or four years, especially if it’s tied to an arbitrary share price,” he said.
Metaplanet Reignites Bitcoin Buying Spree
On Monday, Metaplanet acquired an additional 2,204 BTC for $237 million, paying approximately $107,700 per coin. This latest purchase boosts the company’s total Bitcoin holdings to 15,555 BTC, with an average acquisition price of around $99,985 per Bitcoin.
Despite generating limited revenue, Metaplanet’s stock has surged over 345% this year, pushing its market capitalization above $7 billion. The company’s strategy closely resembles that of Michael Saylor’s firm, which holds more than 597,000 BTC and boasts a $112 billion market cap.
