Japanese micro-strategy Metaplanet collaborates with SBI, making Bitcoin financial strategies more compliant

Following the footsteps of the U.S. software company MicroStrategy, MSTR, the Japanese publicly traded company Metaplanet announced a strategic partnership with SBI VC Trade Co., Ltd. to collaborate on Bitcoin trading and custody. SBI's services include tax efficiency and the potential to use Bitcoin as collateral for financing.

Metaplanet Has Bought 360 Bitcoins Since April

Metaplanet, a Japanese listed company that originated in the accommodation industry (3350:JP), began to adopt a Bitcoin strategy in April after being acquired by several investors such as Sora Ventures and 210k Capital, following in the footsteps of MicroStrategy. The total holding of Bitcoin has now reached 360.4 coins, ranking 27th globally.

With a 1 billion yen investment in BTC, Japanese stock Metaplanet surged nearly 90%! Sora Ventures' acquisition aims to create "Asian Microstrategy"

According to a press release from Metaplanet, the collaboration with SBI aligns with its vision as a provider of modern financial services, enhancing the flexibility of corporate strategies and supplementing Metaplanet's ongoing efforts in equity and debt financing. As the fund continues to expand, Metaplanet will continue to assess various tools and strategies to enhance financial flexibility.

SBI Offers Bitcoin Custody and Tax Services

SBI Holdings is a Japanese financial group focusing on Web 3 development. Its subsidiary, SBI VC Trade, provides SBIVC for Prime services for corporate clients, focusing on supporting trading, storage, and operations of cryptographic assets and Web3 related businesses. It also offers leveraged trading with cryptographic assets collateral and services exempt from year-end market value-based taxes.

According to the Japanese National Tax Agency's "Corporate Tax Basic Circular" amendment, in the future, companies may not have to pay taxes on unrealized gains from virtual currencies under certain conditions. In the case of Metaplanet, this would require meeting the condition of "having a technical measure that prevents it from being transferred to others" for at least one year to avoid taxation at year-end.

It is speculated that the collaboration between Metaplanet and SBI is for compliance and tax considerations. As a Japanese listed company and one of the few leading listed companies to introduce Bitcoin as a corporate financial strategy, having the endorsement of the SBI Financial Group can reassure investors.

SBI Holdings Actively Expands Web 3 Development

SBI Holdings is a Japanese financial group focusing on Web 3 development and has recently collaborated with several companies to promote stablecoins and various developments in the Web 3 space.

• Collaboration with stablecoin issuer Circle to promote the circulation of the stablecoin USDC in Japan and establish deep banking relationships
• Collaboration between SBI, Mitsubishi UFJ, and Progmat to sell real estate securities tokens
• SBI's hundred billion yen venture fund supports Web3 and AI startups
• SBI Remit, a subsidiary remittance company, jointly established SBI Ripple Asia with Ripple, introducing Ripple-supported remittance solutions to bank accounts in the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia