Summary
- Metaplanet, a Bitcoin treasury firm, has finalized a $13 million acquisition of Siiibo Securities, with the transaction expected to conclude in July 2026.
- The acquired entity will be renamed Metaplanet Securities and will focus on creating Bitcoin-linked yield products for retail investors in Japan.
- This acquisition is a significant initial move in "Project Nova," Metaplanet’s plan to develop a financial ecosystem centered around Bitcoin.
Metaplanet, a company managing Bitcoin treasuries, is set to acquire the securities firm Siiibo for $13 million. This strategic move aims to provide Bitcoin-linked yield products directly to Japanese investors, marking a shift from merely accumulating Bitcoin to developing active financial offerings.
Siiibo Securities, the target of this acquisition, possesses a Type 1 Financial Instruments Business license and has been a pioneer in Japan's online corporate bond market, facilitating over 100 bond issuances for more than 40 companies. Upon the deal's closure in July, the firm will be rebranded as Metaplanet Securities.
Announcement regarding the acquisition of shares in Siiibo Securities and the name change to Metaplanet Securities pic.twitter.com/HyDostOMwJ
— Metaplanet Inc. (@Metaplanet) June 12, 2026
In a tweet, CEO Simon Gerovich described the acquisition as "the first concrete step in Project Nova, our long-term strategy to establish a Bitcoin-centric financial ecosystem in Japan," capitalizing on the company’s significant Bitcoin holdings. According to BitcoinTreasuries, Metaplanet is the third-largest Bitcoin treasury firm, holding 40,177 BTC, valued at approximately $2.6 billion at current market prices.
This acquisition signifies a strategic shift for Metaplanet, which has primarily viewed Bitcoin as a safeguard against yen depreciation. Gerovich stated, "We see Bitcoin not just as a reserve asset, but as the cornerstone of the next generation of financial ecosystems." He emphasized the company’s Project Nova initiative, aimed at creating a Bitcoin-focused ecosystem over the medium to long term.
Gerovich pointed out a notable market change in Japan, where households hold approximately $7.4 trillion in cash and deposits due to years of deflation. With Japan's recent transition towards inflation, there is an emerging demand for yield-generating options. He noted, "that capital has already begun searching for yield." With the securities license, Metaplanet can now directly offer Bitcoin-linked products to tap into these substantial household savings seeking returns.
Earlier this year, Metaplanet launched a venture division and investment initiative, focusing on early- to growth-stage companies and providing grants for Bitcoin developers and educators. The company's foray into Bitcoin yield products aligns with similar strategies from other crypto firms targeting institutional interest. For instance, Morpho secured $175 million to enhance DeFi lending options for Wall Street, while Kraken introduced lending vaults for generating yield on Bitcoin holdings.
In 2024, Bitcoin treasury firm Strategy expressed its goal to evolve into a “Bitcoin bank,” as stated by Chairman Michael Saylor, proposing capital market instruments linked to Bitcoin for investors. Recently, the firm sold Bitcoin for the first time since 2022, causing ripples in the crypto market, with some skeptics arguing this revealed a “structural crack” in its Bitcoin strategy.