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Circle to Launch USDC in Japan With SBI Partnership

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Circle plans to launch USDC in Japan on March 26 through a partnership with local heavyweight SBI Holdings, marking a significant milestone for both the global stablecoin market and Japan’s blockchain ecosystem.

“Japan has long been at the forefront of the adoption of Web3 and blockchain technology, and Japan’s regulatory leadership has similarly been out in front on clear rules for the use of stablecoins in the Japan financial system,” said Jeremy Allaire, co-founder and CEO of Circle said in a release.

The launch comes weeks after Circle and SBI received regulatory approval from the Japan Financial Services Agency (JFSA) earlier in March under the country’s electronics payment framework.

Allaire said in a post on X that Circle had spent two years engaging with regulators in Japan in preparation for the launch.

“We believe this initiative will enhance financial accessibility and drive digital asset innovation, aligning with our broader vision for the future of payments and blockchain-based finance in Japan,” Yoshitaka Kitao, representative director, chairman, president and CEO of SBI Holdings said in a statement.

USDC currently has a market cap of around $59.7 billion, according to CoinGecko data.

The Philippines largest digital wallet, GCash, recently added support for USDC.

According to a 2024 report from Circle, the Asia-Pacific region accounts for 29% of global digital currency transaction volume, ahead of Western Europe at 22% and North America at 19%.





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Bitcoin

Metaplanet Buys Additional ¥3.8 Billion Worth Of Bitcoin

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Japanese technology firm Metaplanet has acquired an additional 319 bitcoin worth approximately ¥3.78 billion ($26.3 million), continuing its aggressive bitcoin accumulation strategy amid growing U.S.-China trade tensions.

The Tokyo-listed company purchased the bitcoin at an average price of ¥11.85 million ($83,147) per coin, according to a company announcement on Monday. The latest acquisition brings Metaplanet’s total bitcoin holdings to 4,525 BTC, with an aggregate cost basis of $408.1 million at an average purchase price of $90,194 per bitcoin.

The purchase comes as bitcoin experienced a slight decline over the weekend, dropping more than 2% to $83,482 during Asian trading hours. The bitcoin and crypto market has shown sensitivity to emerging geopolitical tensions, particularly surrounding potential new U.S. trade tariffs targeting Chinese electronics.

Metaplanet often referred to as “Asia’s MicroStrategy,” has outlined ambitious plans to expand its bitcoin holdings by 470% to reach 10,000 BTC by the end of 2025 and 21,000 bitcoin by the end of 2026. The company evaluates its performance through “BTC Yield,” a metric measuring bitcoin holding growth relative to shares outstanding. For Q1 2025, Metaplanet reported a BTC yield of 95.6%, with a year-to-date figure of 6.5% as of April 14.

The company’s latest move has elevated its position to become the ninth-largest public holder of bitcoin globally. Metaplanet’s bitcoin strategy has gained additional attention following the recent appointment of Eric Trump to its Strategic Advisory Board, citing his business expertise and passion for bitcoin. The timing of the purchase coincides with complex market dynamics as investors process mixed signals from Washington regarding U.S. trade policy.

Metaplanet’s bitcoin acquisition strategy is supported by various capital market activities, including bond issuances and stock acquisition rights, designed to raise funds while minimizing shareholder dilution. The company has currently executed approximately 41.7% of its “210 million plan.”

Metaplanet’s strategic pivot to bitcoin accumulation closely mirrors the playbook pioneered by Michael Saylor’s Strategy, albeit on a smaller scale. Since launching its bitcoin treasury operations, the Japanese firm has demonstrated remarkable success in implementing a similar approach of leveraging financial instruments and market opportunities to acquire bitcoin.

Like Strategy, Metaplanet has utilized a combination of convertible debt offerings and equity-linked instruments to fund its acquisitions while maintaining a healthy balance sheet. The strategy has yielded impressive results, with the company’s bitcoin holdings growing to over 4,500 BTC in just over a year.



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24/7 Cryptocurrency News

Japan Set To Classify Cryptocurrencies As Financial Products, Here’s All

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Cryptocurrency investors in Japan are bracing for impact following a plan to reclassify digital assets as financial products. While the plan has elicited excitement from cryptocurrency enthusiasts in the Far East, the ambitious plan will have to scale several legislative hurdles.

Japan Targets Reclassification Of Cryptocurrencies As Financial Products

According to a report by Nikkei, Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) is inching toward classifying cryptocurrencies as financial products. Per the report, the FSA intends to achieve the reclassification via an amendment to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act.

Currently, digital assets in Japan are considered crypto assets conferred with property rights and seen as payment means. Under the FSA’s plans, cryptocurrencies in Japan will be treated as financial products in the same manner as traditional financial products.

The FSA says it will adopt a slow and steady approach toward the reclassification, carrying out “a private expert study group” to test the waters. If everything goes according to plan, the FSA will submit the amended bill to Parliament in early 2026.

The classification of cryptocurrencies as financial products will have far-reaching consequences for the local ecosystem. Experts say treating cryptocurrencies as financial products will bring Japan closer to a crypto ETF launch amid a changing regulatory landscape.

Furthermore, the move may lower current cryptocurrency taxation for local investors since existing capital market rules will apply to the asset class.

A Fresh Bill For Crypto Insider Trading Is Underway

Apart from the reclassification, the FSA disclosed plans for new legislation against insider trading. The move flows treating cryptocurrencies as financial products and will strengthen existing investor protection rules.

“It is a direction to establish a new insider trading regulation that prohibits trading based on unpublished internal information,” said the FSA. “We will develop laws to prevent unfair transactions.”

However, Japan’s cryptocurrency scene is heating up to a boil, driven by local and international players. Last week, stablecoin issuer Circle secured approval from the FSA for USDC with top exchanges set to list the stablecoin.

Japan’s Metaplanet has tapped Eric Trump to join its Strategic Board of Advisors as it continues to load up Bitcoin.

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Aliyu Pokima

Aliyu Pokima is a seasoned cryptocurrency and emerging technologies journalist with a knack for covering needle-moving stories in the space. Aliyu delivers breaking news stories, regulatory updates, and insightful analysis with depth and precision. When he’s not poring over charts or following leads, Aliyu enjoys playing the bass guitar, lifting weights and running marathons.

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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BTC Investments

Bitcoin-focused Metaplanet’s total holdings break through 3k BTC

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Metaplanet has purchased 162 Bitcoin, bringing their total holdings to 3,050 BTC. This is the first time Metaplanet’s crypto investments have surpassed the 3,000 BTC mark.

On March 12, the Japanese investment firm announced it had recently acquired an additional 162 BTC (BTC) at an average price of 12,39 million yen ($83,635) as part of its efforts to continuously strengthen its Bitcoin Treasury Operation. With this latest BTC purchase, Metaplanet has managed to accumulate 3,050 BTC or equal to nearly $250 million.

This is the first time Metaplanet’s Bitcoin Treasury has surpassed the 3,000 BTC threshold. Often referred to as the “Asian MicroStrategy (now known as Strategy),” Metaplanet has been gradually stocking up on its Bitcoin investment since April 2024.

At press time, Bitcoin has gone up more than 2% in the past 24 hours of trading. However, it still has not recovered from its earlier slump, which dragged the price of Bitcoin down from its $90k high.

Bitcoin is currently trading hands at $81,665. The largest cryptocurrency by market cap has declined 6.4% in the past week and nearly 16% in the past month.

Bitcoin-focused Metaplanet's total holdings break through 3k BTC - 1
Price chart for Bitcoin in the past 24 hours, March 12 | Source: crypto.news

The company’s BTC Yield, which measures the amount of Bitcoin held per share, grew by 309.8% in Q4 2024. Meanwhile in the first quarter of 2025, calculated from Jan. 1 until March 12, Metaplanet has achieved a BTC Yield of 53.2%.

Since it started purchasing Bitcoin in April 2024, Metaplanet’s stock price has increased more than 3,000%, making it the best-performing stock in Japan. On March 12, Metaplanet’s stock went up by 8.6% or 290 points to $3,630. The firm currently holds a market cap of $141.8 billion, according to data from Yahoo Finance.

On the same day as the firm’s recent BTC purchase, Metaplanet announced that it has issued ¥2 billion ($13.3 million) through a zero-interest bond to increase its Bitcoin holdings. The bonds were approved on March 12 and will mature in September 2025.



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