Asia’s biggest bitcoin buyer now wants to build the BTC ecosystem

Markets Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Asia’s biggest bitcoin buyer now wants to build the BTC ecosystem Tokyo-listed Metaplanet is expanding beyond holding BTC into funding, incubating, and granting to companies building bitcoin financial infrastructure. By Shaurya Malwa | Edited by Omkar Godbole Updated Mar 12, 2026, 7:13 a.m. Published Mar 12, 2026, 6:55 a.m. Make us preferred on Google What to know : Metaplanet has launched a wholly owned subsidiary, Metaplanet Ventures K.K., to invest about ¥4 billion (roughly $27 million) over two to three years in regulated bitcoin financial infrastructure in Japan. The new unit will run a venture arm, an incubator for early-stage bitcoin and digital asset infrastructure startups, and a grants program for open-source bitcoin developers and educators, with a Japan-first focus and selective global reach. Metaplanet Ventures’ first deal is a planned ¥400 million (about $2.7 million) investment in yen stablecoin issuer JPYC Inc. Metaplanet, Asia's largest publicly listed bitcoin holder, isn't just buying bitcoin BTC $ 69,483.55 anymore but wants to build the ecosystem around it. The Tokyo-listed company, which holds 35,102 BTC, announced Thursday the creation of Metaplanet Ventures K.K., a wholly-owned subsidiary that will invest in companies building regulated bitcoin financial infrastructure in Japan. The total investment over the next two to three years is expected to be approximately JPY (¥) 4 billion (roughly $27 million), funded by cash flows from Metaplanet's existing bitcoin income business. *Notice Regarding Establishment of Metaplanet Ventures K.K.* pic.twitter.com/PlaaRJ220M — Metaplanet Inc. (@Metaplanet) March 12, 2026 The subsidiary will operate across three programs. The first is a venture investment arm targeting seed through growth-stage companies across lending, collateral, payments, Lightning, stablecoin technology, custody, compliance, derivatives, tokenization, and investment products. The focus is Japan first, with a selective global mandate to bring talent and technology into the Japanese market. The second is an incubator for early-stage bitcoin and digital asset infrastructure companies in Japan, providing seed capital and access to Metaplanet's distribution channels, platforms, and investor network. The third is a grants program for bitcoin open-source developers, educators, researchers, and community organizers in Japan, aimed at strengthening the domestic talent pipeline. The first investment is already lined up, with Metaplanet Ventures is making a ¥400 million (roughly $2.7 million) investment into JPYC Inc., a yen-denominated stablecoin issuer, scheduled for April through a loan from the parent company. The strategic rationale ties directly to Japan's regulatory timeline. The country expects to reclassify bitcoin as a regulated financial asset by January 2028, which Metaplanet argues will require massive domestic infrastructure build-out across custody, settlement, compliance, lending, and payment rails that doesn't yet exist at scale. As such, Metaplanet was careful to note that its "core focus remains the accumulation and long term holding of Bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset, unchanged." Meanwhile, the company said it expects no material impact on consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026. MetaPlanet Bitcoin News More For You Across's acx rockets 80%, massively beating bitcoin, on plans to dump its DAO structure By Shaurya Malwa | Edited by Sam Reynolds 32 minutes ago The bridging protocol's team wants to exchange ACX tokens for equity in a new U.S. C-corp or buy holders out at a 25% premium, in what would be one of the first major reversals from token to traditional corporate structure. What to know : Across Protocol has proposed dissolving its DAO and token structure to form a U.S. C-corporation, arguing that a traditional entity would make it easier to secure institutional partnerships and revenue agreements. The plan would let ACX holders either swap tokens for equity in a new company, AcrossCo, at a 1:1 token-to-share ratio or sell their tokens for USDC at $0.04375, a 25 percent premium to the recent 30-day average price. 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