Metaplanet, known as the “Microstrategy of Asia,” has raised an additional 4 billion JPY in zero-interest bonds to buy more Bitcoin.
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Metaplanet has raised 4 billion Japanese yen ($26.1 million) to purchase more Bitcoin, the company shared on Feb. 12 through its X account. The $26.1 comes through zero-interest, unsecured and unguaranteed bonds.
Source: Metaplanet Inc.
A bond is a loan an investor gives to a government or company in exchange for periodic interest payments and the return of the principal at maturity. As per Metaplanet’s announcement, the capital was backed by investment manager EVO Fund, and the company will not have to make interest payments on the bonds.
Metaplanet has announced plans to acquire 10,000 Bitcoin by Q4 2025, which would cost $957 million at current prices. In addition, the Japanese firm wants to increase its Bitcoin (BTC) holdings to 21,000 by the end of 2026, a sum that would be valued at $2 billion at current prices. These plans hint at aggressive purchases in the coming months, as the company held approximately 1,762 BTC as of Jan. 28.
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The raise includes a financial adjustment, wherein Metaplanet is reducing the amount of yen used to purchase BTC from 111.3 billion yen ($723 million) to 107.3 billion yen ($701 million).
In the document screenshotted in the X post, Metaplanet emphasizes that its pivot to acquiring Bitcoin is due to Japan’s challenging economic environment, “characterized by high debt levels, prolonged real negative interest rates, and persistent yen depreciation […].”
Metaplanet’s stock price has risen 5,250% in one year, as the company has seen a 500% growth in shareholders with 50,000 new people or entities investing in it. In addition, its market capitalization has increased by 11,800% over the past 12 months.
Related: State reserve bills add up to $23B in Bitcoin buys: VanEck
More companies, states and even nations are exploring the possibility of adding Bitcoin to their treasuries, seeing the cryptocurrency as a way to hedge against inflation and currency debasement. Some companies, such as Michael Saylor’s Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) and Semler Scientific, have seen their stock prices rise since they began to purchase BTC.
Currently, at least 16 US states are considering purchasing Bitcoin as part of their investment strategies, including Texas, Kentucky and Missouri. The United States federal government is considering creating a digital asset reserve, which may include Bitcoin, and the Czechoslovakia Central Bank is exploring adding BTC to its reserve.
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This article first appeared at Cointelegraph.com News