In the context of a volatile global economy, Japan is emerging as a new “digital asset powerhouse” with a strategy of hoarding and mining Bitcoin on a large scale. Corporations and businesses in the land of cherry blossoms are considering Bitcoin not only as an investment asset but also as a “treasure” to preserve value against the risk of inflation and currency devaluation.
Japanese businesses rush to hoard Bitcoin
This wave is led by Metaplanet Inc. – currently holding 17,595 BTC, ranking 7th in the world among listed companies. Their ambition is to reach the 210,000 BTC mark by 2027.
Next, the Convano salon chain aims to own 21,000 BTC, initially investing $2.7 million and is deploying Bitcoin mining using renewable energy in the US.
Fashion company Mac-House also restructured, changed its name to Gyet Co., Ltd., and poured up to 160 million USD into buying and mining Bitcoin. Even long-standing businesses such as Kitabo or Toho Remac (spent 1 billion yen on buying Bitcoin and Ethereum) are not left out of the game.
Changing the Rules of the Game: Cryptocurrency ETFs Boom Opportunity
Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) is considering converting cryptocurrencies from “means of payment” to “financial products,” paving the way for the first public crypto ETF.
SBI Holdings’ proposal includes a gold-digital asset ETF and a Bitcoin-XRP ETF. If approved, the capital gains tax would be reduced to 20% like stocks instead of the current maximum of 55%, making it easier for pension funds and financial institutions to participate.
Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato also expressed his support, emphasizing that cryptocurrencies should be considered a strategic investment channel. Experts predict that a yen-hedged Bitcoin ETF would both increase global liquidity and reduce barriers for Japanese investors.
Japan reaffirms its position as a crypto powerhouse
Japan was once the global Bitcoin trading hub through Mt. Gox before 2014. After the events, the country learned its lesson and became the first country to license a crypto exchange.
Currently, Japan has more than 12 million crypto accounts and manages about 5 trillion yen (~$34 billion) in digital assets. Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao once commented: “Japan is a pioneer in Web3 regulation.”
Conclude
With its strategy of buying, mining and preparing for crypto ETFs, Japan is moving towards re-establishing its position as a cryptocurrency powerhouse. This is not only the story of one country, but also a valuable lesson for Vietnamese businesses in positioning and breaking through on the global technology map.
