Metaplanet launches two subsidiaries to invest $25M in Japan’s Bitcoin infrastructure

Tokyo-listed Metaplanet approved two wholly owned subsidiaries – Metaplanet Ventures and Metaplanet Asset Management – and outlined plans to deploy about $25 million (¥4 billion) over the next two to three years to support Japan’s Bitcoin infrastructure.

The initiative will focus on companies building financial services around Bitcoin, including lending, payments, custody, derivatives, and compliance tools. The firm also plans an incubator for Japanese founders and grants for open-source Bitcoin developers and educators.

As its first deal, Metaplanet Ventures signed a letter of intent to invest up to ¥400 million (about $2.6 million) in JPYC Inc. as part of the company’s Series B round. JPYC is registered with Japan’s Financial Services Agency and issues a yen-pegged token backed primarily by Japanese government bonds. The investment is expected to close in April, subject to due diligence and final agreements.

Metaplanet Asset Management will be based in Miami and is intended to link Asian and Western capital markets through digital asset credit, yield, and derivatives strategies. The firm views the platform as a way to broaden engagement with institutional investors while supporting capital formation for Bitcoin-focused ventures.

“Japan has built the best regulatory framework in the world for digital assets,” CEO Simon Gerovich wrote on X. “Now it needs the companies, the builders, and the infrastructure to match.”

Industry participants described the planned outlay as modest relative to Japan’s market size but noted potential to spur domestic startups working on Bitcoin-based products and services beyond mining and payments. Musheer Ahmed, founder and managing director of Finstep Asia, called the commitment “relatively small” but one that could “drive more local blockchain startups.” He added that Metaplanet’s “scale and positioning” and familiarity with Asian markets could provide an advantage over U.S.-based peers.

The expansion comes after a volatile year tied to Bitcoin price swings. In January, Metaplanet reported a $680 million in unrealized Bitcoin losses. The company holds 35,102 Bitcoin, valued at roughly $2.4 billion at recent prices. Metaplanet has spent nearly $3.8 billion accumulating Bitcoin at an average of about $107,000 per coin, leaving an unrealized loss of around $1.4 billion based on current valuations. Its shares closed down 3.25% on March 12 at $2.20, extending a decline of more than 62% over the past six months.

Ahmed cautioned that relying on Bitcoin for both assets and services exposes the company to a single asset class. In his view, the venture and asset management units could help diversify revenue and support startups integrating Bitcoin with traditional finance to increase network use and build out the broader ecosystem.