Latest news with #SimonGerovich
Arabian Post
4 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Post
Metaplanet Unveils Unprecedented $5.4B Bitcoin Investment Initiative
Tokyo-based investment firm Metaplanet has announced a groundbreaking plan to raise approximately $5.4 billion through the issuance of 555 million moving-strike warrants, aiming to significantly expand its Bitcoin holdings. This move represents the largest stock acquisition rights issuance in Japanese capital markets history and marks the first instance of such warrants being issued above market price. The company's ambitious strategy, dubbed the '555 Million Plan,' sets a target to acquire 210,000 Bitcoins by the end of 2027, equating to roughly 1% of the total Bitcoin supply. This initiative follows Metaplanet's earlier '21 Million Plan,' under which it aimed to hold 21,000 Bitcoins by 2026. Having already surpassed interim goals with 8,888 Bitcoins, placing it tenth globally among corporate Bitcoin holders, Metaplanet is now intensifying its efforts. The issuance of 555 million new shares through moving-strike warrants is designed to optimize capital raising with minimal dilution. If fully exercised, this issuance could generate an estimated ¥770 billion at an initial strike price of ¥1,388 per share. The funds raised will be primarily allocated to purchasing Bitcoin, with smaller portions earmarked for bond redemptions and income-generating strategies like selling put options. ADVERTISEMENT Metaplanet's CEO, Simon Gerovich, highlighted the significance of this move, stating that it represents Asia's largest-ever equity raise dedicated to Bitcoin. He emphasized the company's commitment to accelerating its Bitcoin strategy, aiming for 30,000 Bitcoins by the end of 2025, 100,000 by 2026, and reaching the 210,000 target by 2027. The company's approach leverages Japan's deep capital markets, where demand for regulated Bitcoin exposure remains strong. Metaplanet's stock, known for its liquidity, offers domestic investors an accessible, tax-advantaged vehicle to gain Bitcoin exposure—a notable advantage given Japan's lack of spot Bitcoin ETFs. This strategic move positions Metaplanet alongside other major corporate Bitcoin holders, drawing parallels to MicroStrategy's pioneering Bitcoin-backed securities approach. The firm's execution to date has been swift, with its previous capital raise of ¥102.8 billion fueling a 225.4% increase in Bitcoin holdings year-to-date. Now, Metaplanet aims to deliver an even more aggressive 600% Bitcoin yield by the end of 2025.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Crypto Daybook Americas: Bitcoin Eyes New High as MetaPlanet Mania Builds
By James Van Straten (All times ET unless indicated otherwise) Bitcoin (BTC) bulls still seem to be in control. The largest cryptocurrency posted a record-high daily close on Tuesday, at $106,830, as it extends its strong upward momentum with minimal pullbacks, putting the previous all-time high of just over $109,000 from Jan. 20 well within reach. This price action has significantly boosted bitcoin-leveraged equities, with Japan's MetaPlanet (3350) standing out—its stock has surged 160% in 2025 alone. Strategy (MSTR), the poster boy for bitcoin buying, has added 44%. MetaPlanet has repeatedly hit Japan's daily limit-up threshold within minutes of market open, effectively freezing upward trading for the day and fueling what resembles a slow-motion short squeeze. Speculation around MetaPlanet's aggressive bitcoin accumulation, as indicated by metrics like Days to Cover mNAV, is driving investor frenzy. Still, CEO Simon Gerovich recently posted on X that MetaPlanet is now the most shorted stock in Japan, with 25% of outstanding shares held short. Meanwhile, macroeconomic conditions add to the complexity. Japanese bond yields are spiking, with the 30-year yield climbing above 3.1% and the 10-year surpassing 1.5% — the highest since 2008. In the U.K., inflation unexpectedly climbed to a 15-month high, pushing the 10-year gilt yield toward the critical 5% level. With bitcoin nearing new highs amid rising global yields and persistent inflationary pressures, markets are entering a phase of heightened volatility that demands keen attention. Stay alert! Crypto May 22: Bitcoin Pizza Day. May 22: Top 220 TRUMP token holders will attend a gala dinner hosted by President Trump at the Trump National Golf Club in Washington. May 30: The second round of FTX repayments starts. Macro Day 2 of 3: Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem will co-host the three-day meeting of G7 finance ministers and central bank governors in Banff, Alberta. May 21, 8 a.m.: Mexico's National Institute of Statistics and Geography releases retail sales data. Retail Sales MoM Est. 0.1% vs. Prev. 0.2% Retail Sales YoY Est. 2.2% vs. Prev. -1.1% May 22, 8 a.m.: Mexico's National Institute of Statistics and Geography releases (final) Q1 GDP growth data. GDP Growth Rate QoQ Est. 0.2% vs. Prev. -0.6% GDP Growth Rate YoY Est. 0.8% vs. Prev. 0.5% May 22, 8:30 a.m.: Statistics Canada releases April producer price inflation data. PPI MoM Est. -0.5% vs. Prev. 0.5%. PPI YoY Prev. 4.7%. May 22, 8:30 a.m.: The U.S. Department of Labor releases unemployment insurance data for the week ended May 17. Initial Jobless Claims Est. 230K vs. Prev. 229K Earnings (Estimates based on FactSet data) May 28: NVIDIA (NVDA), post-market, $0.88 Governance votes & calls Arbitrum DAO is voting on launching 'The Watchdog,' a 400,000-ARB bounty program to reward community sleuths for uncovering misuse of the hundreds of millions in grants, incentives and service budgets the DAO has deployed. Voting ends May 23. Arbitrum DAO is voting on a constitutional AIP to upgrade Arbitrum One and Arbitrum Nova to ArbOS 40, 'Callisto.' bringing them in line with Ethereum's May 7 Pectra upgrade. The proposal schedules activation for June 17, and voting ends May 29. May 21, 11 a.m: Maple to host an X spaces session to 'unveil the next chapter of Maple.' May 22: Official Trump to announce its 'next Era' at the day of the dinner for the largest token holders. June 10: to host an analyst call followed by a Q&A session. Unlocks May 31: Optimism (OP) to unlock 1.89% of its circulating supply worth $22.58 million. June 1: Sui (SUI) to unlock 1.32% of its circulating supply worth $169.38 million. June 1: ZetaChain (ZETA) to unlock 5.34% of its circulating supply worth $11.33 million. June 12: Ethena (ENA) to unlock 0.7% of its circulating supply worth $15.36 million. June 12: Aptos (APT) to unlock 1.79% of its circulating supply worth $57.91 million. Token Launches May 21: Mantra (OM) to be listed on Upbeat and the app. June 1: Staking rewards for staking ERC-20 OM on MANTRA Finance end. June 16: Advised deadline to unstake stMATIC as part of Lido on Polygon's sunsetting process ends. Day 3 of 7: Dutch Blockchain Week (Amsterdam) Day 2 of 3: Avalanche Summit London Day 2 of 3: Seamless Middle East Fintech 2025 (Dubai) Day 1 of 2: Crypto Expo Dubai Day 1 of 2: Cryptoverse Conference (Warsaw) May 27-29: Bitcoin 2025 (Las Vegas) May 27-30: Web Summit Vancouver May 29: Stablecon (New York) May 29-30: Litecoin Summit 2025 (Las Vegas) May 29-June 1: Balkans Crypto 2025 (Tirana, Albania) June 2-7: SXSW London By Shaurya Malwa and Oliver Knight Hailey Welch, aka 'Hawk Tuah Girl,' is distancing herself from the failed HAWK memecoin she promoted in December 2024, despite initially calling it a compliant, fan-focused project. On her Talk Tuah podcast, Welch said she was questioned by the FBI, gave her phone to the SEC, and was 'cleared' of wrongdoing, claiming she was an unwitting participant. Welch now says she didn't understand crypto and felt 'sick' that fans trusted her, contrasting her November 2024 enthusiasm, when she claimed to have 'learned so much' about the token. HAWK, launched on Solana, reached a $491 million market cap before crashing below $100 million within hours. It's now at $104,000, down 99% from its peak. Welch claimed user losses were $180,000, much lower than the estimated $1.2 million. Her figure excludes 10,149 token holders who never sold, per Solscan. Commentators criticized Welch for endorsing a project she didn't understand, with YouTube comments highlighting her lack of accountability. Welch's team previously stated the project was legally compliant with a Cayman foundation and that her tokens would vest over three years. BTC CME futures open interest continues to rise, topping $17 billion for the first time since February. Meanwhile, growth in ETH open interest has stalled above $2 billion. However, the premium in ETH futures is slightly higher than BTC's. On offshore exchanges, perpetual funding rates continue to flash bullish with sub-10% readings. BCH, TON perpetual funding rates remain negative, suggesting a bias for shorts and potential for a short squeeze should the market move higher. In options, flows on OTC network Paradigm featured demand for calls, especially the $180K call expiring in September. BTC is down 0.64% from 4 p.m. ET Tuesday at $106,257.16 (24hrs: +1.23%) ETH is up 0.42% at $2,525.16 (24hrs: +0.51%) CoinDesk 20 is down 0.27% at 2,268.01 (24hrs: +0.6%) Ether CESR Composite Staking Rate is down 1 bps at 3.03% BTC funding rate is at 0.0088% (9.6886% annualized) on Binance DXY is down 0.49% at 99.63 Gold is up 1% at $3,313.10/oz Silver is up 1.02% at $33.31/oz Nikkei 225 closed -0.61% at 37,298.98 Hang Seng closed +0.62% at 23,827.78 FTSE is down 0.15% at 8,768.01 Euro Stoxx 50 is down 0.45% at 5,430.16 DJIA closed on Tuesday -0.27% at 42,677.24 S&P 500 closed -0.39% at 5,940.46 Nasdaq closed -0.38% at 19,142.71 S&P/TSX Composite Index closed +0.32% at 26,055.6 S&P 40 Latin America closed -0.26% at 2,631.81 U.S. 10-year Treasury rate is up 5 bps at 4.54% E-mini S&P 500 futures are down 0.76% at 5,914.75 E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures are down 0.81% at 21,274.50 E-mini Dow Jones Industrial Average Index futures are down 0.76% at 42,447.00 BTC Dominance: 64.01 (-0.15%) Ethereum to bitcoin ratio: 0.02378 (0.63%) Hashrate (seven-day moving average): 884 EH/s Hashprice (spot): $56.1 Total Fees: 7.42 BTC / $784,400 CME Futures Open Interest: 160,155 BTC priced in gold: 32.3 oz BTC vs gold market cap: 9.15% BTC rose as high as $108,000 early today but struggled to maintain the momentum, with the hourly chart MACD histogram turning negative. Prices will likely consolidate for some time, allowing a positive reset of the MACD, following which the next leg higher could resume. Strategy (MSTR): closed on Tuesday at $416.92 (+0.85%), down 0.58% at $414.50 in pre-market Coinbase Global (COIN): closed at $261.38 (-0.99%), down 0.67% at $259.64 Galaxy Digital Holdings (GLXY): closed at C$30.52 (-3.08%) MARA Holdings (MARA): closed at $16.19 (-0.8%), down 1.17% at $16 Riot Platforms (RIOT): closed at $8.93 (-0.45%), down 1.46% at $8.80 Core Scientific (CORZ): closed at $10.92 (+0.65%), down 2.2% at $10.68 CleanSpark (CLSK): closed at $9.7 (-1.42%), down 1.65% at $9.54 CoinShares Valkyrie Bitcoin Miners ETF (WGMI): closed at $17.99 (-0.77%) Semler Scientific (SMLR): closed at $41.88 (-3.21%), up 2.63% at $42.98 Exodus Movement (EXOD): closed at $34.51 (+1.77%), down 1.45% at $34.01 Spot BTC ETFs: Daily net flow: $329.2 million Cumulative net flows: $42.75 billion Total BTC holdings ~ 1.19 million Spot ETH ETFs Daily net flow: $64.8 million Cumulative net flows: $2.61 billion Total ETH holdings ~ 3.47 million Source: Farside Investors Strategy (MSTR) has been accumulating bitcoin at a breakneck speed, maintaining the pace even during the March-April price swoon. "From GameStop to MetaPlanet to Strategy's $60B stash, BTC is reshaping corporate finance. Discover how the '42/42 Plan' could become a blueprint for others," 21Shares said on X. Bitcoin Sets Record Daily Close With $110K as the Next Level to Watch for BTC (CoinDesk): Bitcoin set a record high close on Tuesday at $106,830 as spot ETF inflows rose and bond-market turmoil fueled concerns over fiscal stability, which analysts say could benefit BTC and gold. SEC Charges Unicoin, Top Executives With $100M 'Massive Securities Fraud' (CoinDesk): The SEC alleged Unicoin misled investors by inflating property values, overstating sales claims — touting $3 billion when only $110 million was raised — and promoting rights certificates with exaggerated return promises. U.K. Inflation Jumps, Reinforcing Bank of England's Caution (The Wall Street Journal): Annual inflation rose more than forecast to 3.5% in April on rising labor and energy costs. Projections suggest a gradual return to target by 2027. 'Days to Cover mNAV': The New Standard for Evaluating Bitcoin Equities (CoinDesk): This metric estimates how long a company would need to accumulate enough bitcoin to justify its market cap based on daily yield and net asset value multiple. Morgan Stanley Strategists Say Buy America Except the Dollar (Bloomberg): Morgan Stanley strategists expect 2026 Fed rate cuts to benefit U.S. stocks and Treasuries, while forecasting dollar weakness as growth and yield advantages over other economies shrink. IMF Urges U.S. to Curb Deficit as Trump Tax Cut Plan Stirs Debt Fears (Financial Times): The IMF's first deputy managing director said U.S. fiscal policy should aim to lower the debt-to-GDP ratio and warned that trade uncertainty remains high despite recent tariff relief. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Arabian Post
13-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Metaplanet Surpasses El Salvador in Bitcoin Holdings Amid Strategic Treasury Shift
Tokyo-based Metaplanet Inc. has overtaken El Salvador in Bitcoin reserves, now holding 6,796 BTC compared to the Central American nation's 6,170 BTC. This milestone positions Metaplanet as Asia's leading corporate Bitcoin holder and the first publicly listed Japanese firm to adopt Bitcoin as its primary treasury asset. The company's aggressive accumulation strategy, initiated in April 2024, has led to a staggering 5,250% surge in its stock price over the past year. This growth trajectory has been further bolstered by its inclusion in the MSCI Japan Index, effective February 28, 2025, enhancing its visibility among institutional investors. Central to Metaplanet's strategy is its ambitious '21 Million Plan,' aiming to acquire 10,000 BTC by the end of 2025 and 21,000 BTC by 2026. To finance this, the company has raised approximately ¥116 billion through the issuance of 21 million shares via moving strike warrants, marking the largest Bitcoin-focused capital raise in Asian equity market history. CEO Simon Gerovich has emphasized Bitcoin's role as a hedge against Japan's economic challenges, including high debt levels and currency depreciation. He stated that the company's pivot to a Bitcoin-centric strategy has transformed it from a 'zombie' company into a market leader. Metaplanet's financial performance reflects this transformation, with a reported 309.82% Bitcoin yield in Q4 2024 and a market capitalization increase of 11,800% over the past year. The company's shareholder base has expanded significantly, now exceeding 50,000 investors. In addition to its financial endeavors, Metaplanet is promoting Bitcoin adoption through initiatives like the upcoming launch of 'The Bitcoin Hotel' in Tokyo, set to open in Q3 2025. This establishment aims to serve as a hub for Bitcoin education and community engagement. See also Ripple's Legal Triumph Reshapes Crypto Regulatory Landscape Metaplanet's approach mirrors that of U.S.-based Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, which holds over 553,000 BTC. Both companies exemplify a growing trend of corporations integrating Bitcoin into their treasury strategies as a means of preserving value and driving growth. Arabian Post – Crypto News Network
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
5 big crypto shifts no one's talking about in 2025
Global crypto market capitalization has now soared past $3.4 trillion, fueled by key shifts that extend far beyond market cycles or speculative hype. From Bitcoin's return as a foundational asset to the rise of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), transparency-first infrastructure, and enterprise-grade blockchain adoption — crypto is going through its most significant maturation phase yet. The most dominant force in the crypto space today? Bitcoin is maturing into something far more institutional and long-term. 'The most important development in the crypto space is the re-centering of Bitcoin as the foundational asset class,' Simon Gerovich, President of Metaplanet Inc told TheStreet Roundtable. 'We're seeing a clear shift away from speculation toward long-term adoption, with Bitcoin increasingly recognized as a durable store of value. This is fueling the rise of Bitcoin Treasury Companies—publicly traded firms that accumulate Bitcoin on their balance sheets as a core strategic asset. These companies are redefining how businesses approach capital preservation and value creation in the digital age.' Metaplanet Inc. is a Tokyo-listed investment firm that officially adopted a Bitcoin-first strategy on April 8. Often called 'Asia's MicroStrategy,' the company began acquiring Bitcoin as its core treasury asset to hedge against inflation and currency risk. Since the launch of this strategy, Metaplanet has positioned itself as Japan's leading Bitcoin treasury firm. Bitcoin is up 67.3% in the last year, trading at $102,604 at the time of writing, according to Kraken's price feeds. The crypto space has always battled questions of trust. But now, with more regulation and mainstream adoption, the spotlight is firmly on transparency and accountability. 'The biggest shift in crypto today is moving from hype cycles to hard proof,' noted Blake Benthall, Founder and CEO of Fathom(x). 'It's not enough to promise privacy or decentralization—you have to prove what's real, what's secure, and who controls what, all on-chain. Builders like me are focused on making transparency and privacy work together, not at odds. That's the only way crypto survives and scales in a world that's demanding both trust and accountability.' Fathom(x) is a blockchain analysis and risk mitigation company dedicated to supporting both companies and individuals in managing cryptocurrency transactions and wallets. Enterprise adoption of blockchain has long been hyped — but 2025 is the year it actually starts happening. 'The most significant trend shaping the crypto space right now is the adoption of blockchain as a fundamental layer for enterprise infrastructure,' added Michael Weinrub, CEO of AppLayer. 'Companies are moving beyond traditional cloud solutions, recognizing blockchain's unmatched capabilities in security, scalability, and operational efficiency. At AppLayer, we see this shift accelerating rapidly—organizations aren't just exploring blockchain, they're actively replacing legacy infrastructure to achieve dramatic efficiency gains and transformative business outcomes.' AppLayer is a modular EVM layer for cross-chain applications. The blockchain stack comprises of a C++ based EVM network with stateful pre-compiles capable of achieving over 65x performance boost to leading EVM networks. The next frontier for crypto's evolution is legal—and it's one that can't be ignored. 'Capital is shifting into its finest version of digital,' says Jose Rodriguez, Partner at Nodeman. 'While traditional financial players are struggling to understand this shift, bold companies in the decentralized space are taking advantage. Legal services need to be accurate to these changes in order to enable digital capital through bold regulation.' President Donald Trump has taken a sharp pro-crypto turn in his first 100 days back in office, marking a big shift from the Biden years. His administration has rolled out a series of executive orders and appointed crypto-friendly leaders to top regulatory roles, including at the SEC, FDIC, and OCC. Key policies include a plan for a Bitcoin-only strategic reserve, the end of SEC lawsuits like Ripple's, and potential new bank charters for crypto firms. SEC Chair Paul Atkins and others are already working with industry leaders on clear guidance. Perhaps the most seismic transformation in crypto is the rise of tokenized real-world assets — especially when paired with the steady ascent of stablecoins. 'The rise of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) and stablecoins is no longer just a trend. It's being validated by real-world adoption, growing institutional traction, and a projected $17 trillion market by 2033,' said Jeremy Ng, Founder and CEO of OpenEden. 'Within this surge, yield-bearing stablecoins like OpenEden Digital's USDO are emerging as a breakout category, redefining digital money by delivering real-world yield with regulatory oversight. But scale won't come from hype alone. Utility, regulatory guardrails, compliance, and transparency will be critical to unlocking the next wave of institutional and mainstream adoption.' OpenEden is a Singapore-based fintech company focused on bridging traditional finance and crypto through tokenized real-world assets. 'The digital asset space is evolving rapidly as regulatory clarity, technological progress, and client demand align across global markets,' adds Matt Blumenfeld, PwC Digital Asset Lead. 'Stablecoins are playing a pivotal role in enabling instant, low-cost value transfer. This momentum is embedding digital assets into the fabric of finance, not as an alternative, but as the next evolution.'
Arabian Post
07-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Metaplanet Deepens Bitcoin Commitment with $53M Acquisition
Metaplanet Inc., a Tokyo-listed investment firm, has fortified its position in the cryptocurrency market by acquiring an additional 555 Bitcoins, valued at approximately $53.4 million. This purchase was financed through the issuance of zero-coupon bonds to EVO FUND, raising $25 million, which was entirely allocated to the Bitcoin acquisition at an average price of $96,134 per coin. This strategic move elevates Metaplanet's total Bitcoin holdings to 2,235 BTC, positioning the company as one of the top 15 publicly traded entities globally in terms of Bitcoin reserves. The firm has set an ambitious target to amass 10,000 BTC by the end of 2025, with a longer-term goal of reaching 21,000 BTC by 2026, aligning with Bitcoin's capped supply of 21 million coins. Metaplanet's aggressive accumulation strategy mirrors the approach of U.S.-based Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, which has been a pioneer in corporate Bitcoin investment. Since adopting the Bitcoin Standard in April 2024, Metaplanet has experienced significant growth, with its market capitalization increasing by 7,000% and its shareholder base expanding to over 50,000. The company's financial performance has also seen a substantial boost, achieving a record-breaking 309.82% BTC yield in Q4 2024. Metaplanet measures its performance using BTC yield, focusing on the growth of Bitcoin per share rather than traditional fiat metrics. This approach underscores the company's commitment to maximizing shareholder value in Bitcoin terms. To fund its Bitcoin acquisitions, Metaplanet has employed innovative financial instruments, including the issuance of moving strike warrants and zero-coupon bonds. These tools have allowed the company to raise capital without incurring interest-bearing liabilities, thereby optimizing its capital structure and reducing financial risks. See also Bitcoin Breaks $100,000 Barrier Amid Market Euphoria Metaplanet's CEO, Simon Gerovich, has emphasized the company's mission to lead the Bitcoin renaissance in Japan and emerge as a global leader in Bitcoin treasury operations. The firm plans to utilize a mix of loans, equity, and convertible bonds to achieve its Bitcoin accumulation goals, reflecting a flexible and strategic approach to capital markets. The company's aggressive Bitcoin strategy has not gone unnoticed, with analysts projecting that Bitcoin could reach or surpass $200,000 by the end of 2025. Metaplanet's bold moves are seen as a response to this bullish outlook, positioning the firm to capitalize on potential market gains. Metaplanet's stock performance has mirrored its Bitcoin strategy, with shares surging by over 4,000% in the past year. The company is set to be included in the MSCI Japan Index, a move expected to attract more investors and enhance its market presence. Arabian Post – Crypto News Network
