Japan-based investment firm Metaplanet has just made headlines by acquiring an additional 1,241 Bitcoin, officially surpassing El Salvador in total BTC reserves. With this latest purchase, the company now holds 2,207 BTC—more than the 2,000 BTC held by the Central American nation that made Bitcoin legal tender in 2021.
The news broke early on May 12, when Metaplanet’s official X account announced the move, accompanied by a regulatory filing detailing the acquisition. The documents show that the company spent ¥14.8 billion JPY, approximately $96 million USD, to secure the new batch of Bitcoin.
This move reinforces Metaplanet’s emerging status as Asia’s version of MicroStrategy — a publicly listed company doubling down on BTC as a core treasury asset in response to yen devaluation and global macro uncertainty.
Bitcoin Holdings Now Top El Salvador’s Stack
With this purchase, Metaplanet now holds 2,207 Bitcoin, compared to the 2,000 BTC publicly known to be held by El Salvador’s government. While President Nayib Bukele’s Bitcoin strategy made global waves in 2021, the Japanese firm’s accelerated accumulation in 2025 is setting a new benchmark for corporate Bitcoin adoption in Asia.
According to the company’s official disclosure, the purchase was executed via a combination of direct market buys and OTC desk transactions, ensuring minimal price disruption.
The move cements Metaplanet as the largest BTC-holding public company in Japan, and one of the most aggressive buyers in the current market cycle.
Why Metaplanet Is Doubling Down on Bitcoin
In its filings, the company cites the declining value of the Japanese yen, global inflation concerns, and a desire to adopt “hard money” assets as reasons behind its Bitcoin-centric approach.
Japan, like many economies, has grappled with prolonged low interest rates, ballooning national debt, and a weakening currency. In this environment, Bitcoin is increasingly seen as a hedge not just against inflation, but also against fiat depreciation. By allocating treasury reserves into BTC, Metaplanet is effectively signaling that it no longer trusts traditional monetary tools to preserve long-term value.
By embracing BTC as a reserve asset, Metaplanet joins the ranks of companies like MicroStrategy, which has made Bitcoin its primary balance sheet asset since 2020. The comparison is not accidental. Crypto analysts across X and Telegram channels are already calling Metaplanet the “MicroStrategy of Asia.”
The firm has also hinted at further acquisitions, stating that it will continue to monitor macroeconomic conditions and may expand its BTC position depending on market dynamics and regulatory developments.
Market Reaction and Bitcoin Price Impact
Following the announcement, Bitcoin saw a modest uptick in trading volume but held steady around the $104,000 mark. While the purchase itself didn’t cause major price movement, the symbolic importance of a Japanese company overtaking El Salvador sparked conversations across the crypto community.
Source: Tradingview
Investor sentiment around institutional adoption remains strong, especially in light of recent moves by sovereign wealth funds and ETFs. Metaplanet’s bold strategy adds further credibility to the thesis that corporate treasuries are rebalancing in favor of Bitcoin — not just in the West, but globally
Following the announcement, Bitcoin saw a modest uptick in trading volume but held steady around the $104,000 mark. While the purchase itself didn’t cause major price movement, the symbolic importance of Metaplanet overtaking El Salvador sparked conversations across the crypto community.
Final Thoughts: Japan Joins the Bitcoin Race
Metaplanet’s bold strategy marks a turning point in Asia’s institutional approach to crypto. By publicly outpacing a nation-state in BTC accumulation, the company is sending a clear message: Bitcoin is no longer fringe — it’s a core reserve asset.
This shift could open the door for more corporate adoption in Japan, a country known for its early embrace of crypto regulations and fintech innovation. If other firms follow Metaplanet’s example, we could see a new wave of institutional demand emerging from Asia — adding further strength to Bitcoin’s global thesis as digital gold.
With further regulatory clarity emerging in Japan and Asia at large, Metaplanet could be just the first of many public firms to follow this path. If this momentum continues, El Salvador might not be the only government overshadowed by corporations in the next chapter of Bitcoin’s adoption story.
