Metaplanet wants to use Bitcoin as collateral to access bank financing

Metaplanet, the Japanese Bitcoin treasury firm, has revealed a bold strategy to convert its growing Bitcoin reserves into capital for acquiring profitable businesses.

According to a July 8 Financial Times report, Metaplanet CEO Simon Gerovich said the company is preparing for a second phase where it can use Bitcoin as collateral to access bank financing.

Gerovich outlined the plan, saying:

“When bitcoin, like securities or government bonds, can be deposited with banks and then they’ll provide very attractive financing against that asset. We’ll get cash that we can use to buy profitable businesses, cash-flowing businesses.”

He estimates this transition could take place within four to six years.

While acquisitions remain a long-term goal, Gerovich noted that any businesses Metaplanet targets should align with its existing mission. He said:

“Maybe it is acquiring a digital bank in Japan and providing digital banking services that are superior to the services which retail now is getting.”

Institutional backing grows as Bitcoin strategy accelerates

On June 7, Metaplanet purchased 2,205 BTC for $237 million. This is its largest Bitcoin purchase to date and pushed its total holdings to 15,555 BTC (worth $1.7 billion), making it the fifth-largest public holder of the top crypto.

Gerovich emphasized that the company has no intention of selling any Bitcoin. Instead, it will continue to raise capital to grow its reserves, describing the current environment as a “Bitcoin  gold rush.”

He said:

“We need to accumulate as much bitcoin as we can . . . to get to a point where we’ve reached escape velocity and it just makes it very difficult for others to catch up.”

Considering this, the firm aims to acquire 1% of Bitcoin’s supply or 210,000 BTC by the end of 2027.

As a result, the aggressive Bitcoin stance is drawing significant institutional attention.

Capital Group, a US-based asset manager with over $2.6 trillion under management, is poised to become Metaplanet’s largest shareholder.

As of the latest update, Capital Group holds 44.2 million shares or approximately 6.6% of the company. This is just behind MMXX Ventures, which has 44.3 million shares, or 6.7% of the Japan-based firm.

Gerovich welcomed the development, saying:

“Honored to see our largest institutional investor rising in the rankings and now nearly Metaplanet’s #1 shareholder.”

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