- Metaplanet buys 555 BTC, raises $25M via bonds to fund further Bitcoin accumulation.
- BlackRock surpasses Strategy with 620K BTC held through its IBIT ETF worth $58.51B.
- Bitcoin hits $96,930 after 2.9% daily jump, boosted by institutional inflows and purchases.
Japan-based Metaplanet has acquired an additional 555 Bitcoins, valued at approximately $53.7 million, as part of its ongoing digital asset strategy. The purchase brings the company’s total Bitcoin holdings to 5,555 BTC, worth an estimated $537.2 million at current prices. The latest move mirrors a strategy long used by Strategy, which involves raising capital to expand Bitcoin reserves.
According to on-chain data shared by analytics account Lookonchain, the acquisition was made through two platforms, bitFlyer and QCP Capital. The transfers to Metaplanet’s cold wallet included 198 BTC, 197.5 BTC, and 159.4 BTC. All transactions were completed three hours before the announcement. Blockchain data from Arkham Intelligence confirms these transactions and the recipient wallet, linking it to Metaplanet.
Bond Sale Supports Ongoing BTC Strategy
In parallel with the new Bitcoin purchase, Metaplanet disclosed that it has issued $25 million worth of 0% ordinary bonds. Proceeds from the bond sale will be used to acquire more Bitcoin, confirming the company’s ongoing commitment to long-term digital asset exposure. The zero-coupon bond structure is similar to previous tactics used by MicroStrategy to raise non-dilutive capital for Bitcoin purchases.
This marks another instance where Metaplanet has directly followed a corporate Bitcoin acquisition strategy that prioritizes holding the asset as a reserve rather than converting it for operational use. The decision to raise funds via debt rather than equity suggests a focused attempt to avoid dilution while expanding asset holdings.
BlackRock Overtakes MicroStrategy in Bitcoin Holdings
While Metaplanet continues to build its position, BlackRock has emerged as the largest institutional holder of Bitcoin through its iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT). As of May 6, the fund had increased its total holdings to 620,252 BTC after a single-day inflow of 5,613 BTC worth $529.5 million. The total value of IBIT’s Bitcoin holdings now stands at $58.51 billion.
BlackRock’s growth has seen it move past Strategy who currently holds 555,450 BTC worth an estimated $38 billion. Yet the deeper impact comes from the IBIT fund; it holds 41,452 BTC, or $3.92 billion, and represents the tip of the iceberg for ETFs that BlackRock could bring to the market.
Other U.S.-based Bitcoin ETFs recorded varied activity on the same day. Fidelity and Bitwise led the outflows, losing 611 BTC and 239 BTC, respectively. VanEck’s Bitcoin ETF recorded no inflows or outflows, while the remaining ETF products showed mild declines.
At press time, Bitcoin is trading at $96,930 after climbing 2.9% on Tuesday. The price increased from $94,690 to as high as $97,430 within 24 hours. The surge coincided with reports of significant institutional accumulation, including Metaplanet’s recent purchase and IBIT’s inflow spike.
