Metaplanet Deepens Bitcoin Strategy With $25M Investment Plan, New Venture Arm
Metaplanet is expanding its Bitcoin-focused strategy by launching Metaplanet Ventures and Metaplanet Asset Management, planning to invest around $25 million over two to three years into startups building Bitcoin-related financial infrastructure in Japan. The initiative includes early- and growth-stage venture investments, an incubator for Japanese founders, and grants for open-source Bitcoin projects. The company aims to support development across areas such as lending, payments, custody, derivatives, and compliance. This shift comes as Metaplanet faces financial challenges from Bitcoin price volatility, holding 35,102 BTC with unrealized losses of about $1.4 billion and a 62% decline in stock value over six months. The first planned investment is up to $2.6 million in JPYC Inc., a yen stablecoin issuer. Metaplanet Asset Management will operate out of Miami to bridge Asian and Western capital markets. The strategy is intended to diversify revenue sources beyond Bitcoin holdings and stimulate local innovation in Japan’s crypto ecosystem.
