Playing Safe? Metaplanet Shifts Bitcoin Investment Strategy, Raises $26M in Bonds

Metaplanet, a Japan-listed company, has just raised ¥4 billion ($26.32 million) by issuing 0% interest bonds. Initially, the plan was to use this money to buy more Bitcoin, doubling down on its crypto-focused strategy. But in a surprising twist, the company decided to allocate the funds for bond repayments instead.

Does it mean Metaplanet is stepping back from its Bitcoin ambitions? Far from it. Despite the shift, its stock price has soared 64% this year, proving that investors still believe in its long-term Bitcoin bet.

Aiming to Be Asia’s Biggest Bitcoin Holder

Metaplanet began buying Bitcoin in April 2024 and has already acquired 1,762 BTC, spending $137 million. The company views Bitcoin as a valuable asset due to its limited supply and independence from government control. By 2026, it plans to increase its holdings to 21,000 BTC, aiming to become Asia’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder.

This aggressive accumulation has attracted more investors, with Metaplanet’s shareholder count soaring 500% to 50,000 in 2024.

Praise from Bitcoin Advocates

Metaplanet’s strategy has caught the attention of MicroStrategy’s executive chairman, michael saylor michael saylor Michael Saylor is a Co-founder of Strategy formerly MicroStrategy. Before founding Microstrategy, he was a rocket scientist and studied aeronautics and astronautics at MIT on an Air Force scholarship. He dubs Bitcoin 'Digital Gold'. He made some early investment in Bitcoin as soon as he realized it was going to be the next big thing in shaping decentralized finance from traditional finance. His firm Strategy has made Bitcoin their primary treasure reserve. He is a vocal advocate and Top Bitcoin Speaker who participates in various Bitcoin and Crypto events. Michael Saylor is highly skilled in and has a rich knowledge of numerous fields, including analytics, data warehouses, SaaS, management, cloud computing, enterprise architecture, mobile devices, and many more.   Personal Details: Born: Feb 4, 1965Location: United StatesGraduation: He graduated from MIT in 1987 with a double major in aeronautics, science, technology, and society.    Michael Saylor – Career Timeline 1983–1987: Studied Aeronautics & Astronautics and Science, Technology & Society at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). 1989: Co-founded MicroStrategy (Strategy). 1998: MicroStrategy IPO – Took MicroStrategy public on the NASDAQ at $12 per share. 2000: Accounting Scandal & Crash – MicroStrategy's stock plunged 62% in a day due to an accounting misstatement, wiping out billions in valuation. 2004–2019: MicroStrategy Rebuilds – Worked towards cloud-based analytics and AI-driven business intelligence, regaining stability. 2020: Bitcoin Strategy & Investment – Led MicroStrategy’s $425M Bitcoin investment. He made it the first publicly traded company to adopt Bitcoin. 2021: Bitcoin Evangelism – Became one of Bitcoin’s most vocal advocates, encouraging corporations and institutions to adopt BTC and blockchain. 2022: Stepped Down as CEO – Transitioned to Executive Chairman to focus entirely on Bitcoin strategy.     msaylor@microstrategy.com EntrepreneurCrypto and Blockchain ExpertAuthor , a well-known Bitcoin supporter. The company’s stock price has skyrocketed from below ¥1,000 in October 2024 to over ¥6,650 today – a massive 4,000% surge. This explosive growth has made Metaplanet one of Japan’s hottest stocks, attracting interest from both crypto and traditional investors.

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Is This a Winning Formula?

Strategy started this trend and has successfully borrowed money to buy Bitcoin, and Metaplanet seems to be following the same playbook. Strategy doubled its stock price in five years with this approach, proving that Bitcoin can be a strong financial asset. Since Japan has low interest rates, Metaplanet can borrow money cheaply to keep adding more Bitcoin to its reserves. The companies are cashing on these recent dips to add more BTC at low rates. 

Bitcoin’s Growing Influence

Bitcoin is currently trading at $96,226, with a market cap of $1.90 trillion. As the U.S. considers adding Bitcoin to its financial reserves, more companies might adopt Metaplanet’s strategy. However, Bitcoin’s price remains unpredictable, and its limited supply could make future purchases more expensive.

If Metaplanet manages these risks well, it could lead Asia in corporate Bitcoin holdings. But if the market turns against them, this bold move could backfire.

History favors the bold, but in Bitcoin’s volatile world, who can tell for sure?

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