By Ginger Perry, updated July 14, 2025
Over the last few years, something unusual has been happening in the world of business finance. Companies are starting to buy Bitcoin — not just as an experiment, but as a serious part of their long-term financial strategy. This growing trend has sparked what many now call a corporate race for Bitcoin. It all started with MicroStrategy in the United States. Now, a Japanese company called Metaplanet is making waves with a similar move.
So, what’s going on? Why are companies suddenly interested in Bitcoin? And could Metaplanet be the next MicroStrategy?
Let’s break it down in simple terms.
MicroStrategy: The Company That Started It All
In 2020, MicroStrategy, a U.S.-based software company, made headlines by investing millions of dollars into Bitcoin. Its CEO, Michael Saylor, believed that traditional money was losing value due to inflation and low interest rates. So instead of keeping the company’s extra cash in the bank, he started buying Bitcoin.
It was a bold move. Many people thought it was risky. But over time, MicroStrategy kept buying more and more Bitcoin. By 2025, the company holds over 150,000 BTC, worth billions of dollars. Its stock price has followed the rise of Bitcoin, and Saylor has become a kind of spokesperson for corporate Bitcoin investing.
Metaplanet: Japan’s Surprising Bitcoin Player
Now, halfway across the world, another company is stepping into the spotlight. Metaplanet, a small public company in Japan, started buying Bitcoin in 2024. This move surprised many people because Japan is known for being cautious when it comes to financial innovation. Yet Metaplanet is doing exactly what MicroStrategy did — turning its cash into Bitcoin.
Why would a Japanese company do that?
Simple: it’s thinking long-term. Like MicroStrategy, Metaplanet sees Bitcoin as a way to protect itself from the risks of inflation, currency weakness, and economic uncertainty. Instead of letting its money slowly lose value in the bank, Metaplanet wants to grow it with Bitcoin.
Why Are Companies Buying Bitcoin?
To understand this trend, you need to know what Bitcoin offers that cash doesn’t.
1. Limited Supply
Bitcoin has a fixed supply — only 21 million coins will ever exist. This makes it different from regular money, which governments can print as much as they want. Because of this, many investors see Bitcoin as “digital gold.”
2. Inflation Protection
When inflation rises, the value of money goes down. Bitcoin, with its limited supply, is designed to keep its value over time. Companies that worry about inflation are turning to Bitcoin as a way to protect their reserves.
3. Global Asset
Bitcoin works across borders. It’s not tied to one country or one currency. This makes it useful for global companies that want to hold an asset that isn’t affected by local problems.
4. Public Attention
Let’s be honest — companies that buy Bitcoin often get a lot of media attention. For some, this is a chance to show they’re modern, tech-savvy, and thinking ahead.
Metaplanet vs MicroStrategy: What’s the Difference?
While both companies are buying Bitcoin, there are a few differences:
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Size: MicroStrategy is a larger company with more Bitcoin. Metaplanet is just getting started.
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Location: MicroStrategy is based in the U.S., while Metaplanet is in Japan — a country with stricter rules around crypto.
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Strategy: MicroStrategy often buys in big chunks. Metaplanet seems to be using a slow and steady approach, buying Bitcoin gradually over time.
Still, the idea is the same: Bitcoin as a long-term financial strategy.
Will Other Companies Join the Race?
This is the big question. Now that both American and Asian companies are openly buying Bitcoin, will others follow?
Some possibilities:
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Tech companies: Firms with lots of cash, like software or cloud businesses, may consider Bitcoin.
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Energy companies: Some are already mining Bitcoin. Holding some on the balance sheet may be a logical next step.
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Emerging markets: In countries with weak currencies, Bitcoin can offer more stability than local money.
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Financial institutions: Banks and asset managers are slowly warming up to Bitcoin. Soon, they might start holding it themselves.
Risks Are Still There
Of course, buying Bitcoin isn’t without risk. The price can swing wildly. There are also accounting challenges, and not everyone believes in it yet. Boards of directors and shareholders may worry about the ups and downs.
But one thing is clear: Bitcoin is no longer just for tech nerds and retail investors. It’s becoming part of serious corporate strategy — a corporate race for Bitcoin that’s gaining speed as more companies look to protect their wealth and embrace the future of finance.
Final Thoughts
Metaplanet’s decision to follow in MicroStrategy’s footsteps could be the start of something bigger. It shows that Bitcoin is gaining acceptance around the world, not just in the U.S. The fact that a Japanese company is now holding Bitcoin on its balance sheet could inspire others in Asia and beyond to do the same.
Will Metaplanet become as big in Bitcoin as MicroStrategy? Maybe. Maybe not. But what matters is this: the corporate Bitcoin movement is growing. A corporate race for Bitcoin is underway, and as more companies look for ways to protect their money and invest in the future, Bitcoin is starting to look like a smart — and maybe even necessary — option.
