Driven by the Bitcoin holding strategy (originally Microstrategy) that has sparked a wave of Bitcoin asset reserves, more and more companies in various countries are gradually getting involved, and we can see news about new companies determined to buy BTC as corporate reserves from time to time.
In Japan, the listed company Metaplanet, which was originally engaged in Japanese tourism and hotel operations, has been actively increasing its investment since April 2024. Relying on this bold decision and the continuous rise of BTC, Metaplanet's stock price has continued to rise and has been hailed as the "Japanese Microstrategy".
As of now, Metaplanet holds a total of 1,762 BTC, worth about $15.12 million. According to the company's information, the company plans to increase its BTC holdings to 10,000 by the end of 2025 and 21,000 by the end of 2026.
Stock price soared 4100% in the past 12 months
According to a report by Bloomberg, over the past year, Metaplanet, driven by the positive impact of BTC, has pushed the company's stock price from 140 yen to 5,880 yen, a surge of 4100%, making it the company with the largest stock price increase in Japan during the same period.
What fewer people may know is that Metaplanet (formerly Red Planet Japan), founded in 1999, was originally a listed company engaged in tourism and hotel operations, but after being hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, its hotel business was devastatingly affected, and its stock price and revenue plummeted to the bottom.
Facing a life-or-death situation, Metaplanet tried to shift its business focus to Web 3 and the , but to no avail, until CEO Simon Gerovich was inspired by Michael Saylor's BTC investment strategy in a podcast, and after announcing the purchase of BTC in April 2024, the stock price soared.
Will it turn around the six-year consecutive loss dilemma?
Metaplanet is expected to release its fourth-quarter financial report this week, and Japanese stock analyst Rhiannon Ewart-White believes that Metaplanet will end the company's six-year consecutive loss, and stated:
This could further drive Metaplanet's stock price higher.
However, Ewart-White also said that Metaplanet needs to help investors understand the company's strategy:
Metaplanet has an extremely high position among retail investors, and they need to ensure that shareholders fully understand the company's strategy.
Ewart-White then added a reminder about the risks that BTC may bring to Metaplanet:
Although Metaplanet's BTC acquisition is supported by its hotel business, the scale of the related business is extremely small, and if the BTC price plummets, the company may face severe challenges.
The only remaining hotel will be renamed to the 'Bitcoin Hotel'
Interestingly, Metaplanet also plans to rename its only remaining Royal Oak Hotel in Gotanba, Tokyo to the "The Bitcoin Hotel" this year, in order to host BTC-related seminars and events, further demonstrating its full commitment to BTC.
