Japanese Firms Double Down on Bitcoin as Markets Falter

Even as global markets reel from geopolitical tensions and trade tariff fears, Japan’s corporate giants are ramping up their Bitcoin (BTC) bets.

On Monday, Tokyo-listed Metaplanet added 330 BTC to its reserves, lifting its total holdings to 4,855 BTC—currently valued at over $420 million. This marks the company’s third BTC acquisition in April, reinforcing its commitment to digital assets despite broader market uncertainty. With this latest purchase, Metaplanet now ranks as the tenth-largest public company in terms of Bitcoin holdings.

Metaplanet’s aggressive accumulation coincided with BTC prices climbing back above $87,300, erasing last week's losses. The move stands in stark contrast to the mood across traditional markets, where investor sentiment remains shaky amid fresh tariff announcements.

Another Japanese company entering the crypto space is ANAP Holdings, a fashion and retail brand. The firm recently acquired approximately 16.6591 BTC—worth around ¥200 million (~$1.4 million). The investment is managed by its subsidiary, ANAP Lightning Capital, which plans to update BTC performance on a quarterly basis in its financials.

So far this quarter, ANAP reports a 12.1% BTC yield, building on a remarkable 95% yield from the previous quarter. The company uses its proprietary "BTC Yield" metric to measure the growth of bitcoin per fully diluted share, reflecting how Bitcoin is being integrated into its corporate strategy.

While traditional equities take a hit—U.S. stocks, for example, saw a staggering $5.4 trillion wiped out in two days following tariff announcements earlier this month—Bitcoin has shown relative resilience. The Nasdaq plunged 11%, but BTC only dipped about 6% before rebounding.

Metaplanet shares edged up 0.9% on the Tokyo Stock Exchange following its latest Bitcoin move, signaling investor confidence in its crypto-forward strategy.