Metaplanet Doubles Down on Bitcoin: A $71.25 Million Bet on Crypto’s Future
In a bold move signaling growing corporate confidence in digital assets, Japan’s Metaplanet has announced its third Bitcoin-focused capital raise this month, totaling $71.25 million. The former hotel operator’s latest $21.25 million bond sale exclusively for Bitcoin acquisitions comes as its stock becomes a proxy for crypto exposure in traditional markets. With 2025-maturity bonds now funding its crypto strategy, Metaplanet exemplifies Japan’s accelerating institutional adoption of cryptocurrency as alternative treasury assets.
Metaplanet Ramps Up Bitcoin Investments with Bold Financial Moves
Japan’s Metaplanet, traditionally a hotel operator, is aggressively pivoting to cryptocurrency. The firm announced a $21.25 million bond sale exclusively for Bitcoin acquisitions, marking its third capital raise this month. Previous offerings totaled $50 million through EVO FUND partnerships.
The 2025-maturity bonds underscore corporate Japan’s growing appetite for digital assets. Metaplanet’s stock has become a proxy for bitcoin exposure in Tokyo, mirroring MicroStrategy’s role in US markets. This strategic shift reflects broader institutional recognition of crypto as a treasury asset.
Bitcoin Surges Past $104K Amid Record Wallet Creation
Bitcoin’s price rally accelerated dramatically this week, climbing from $94,000 to $103,890 as investor interest reached fever pitch. The May 8 network activity shattered records with 344,620 new wallets created—the highest single-day total of 2025.
On-chain metrics tell a compelling story of renewed retail participation. Santiment data reveals an 8.13% surge in new addresses and 8.79% growth in active users, while dormant wallets suddenly sprang to life. This organic momentum suggests the rally stems from fundamental adoption rather than speculative trading.
The resurgence began quietly on May 6 after a sluggish start to the month. By May 9, BTC stabilized at $103,114—a level not seen since the 2024 halving euphoria. Market observers note the wallet growth trajectory mirrors Bitcoin’s 2021 bull run, when network expansion preceded major price appreciation.
Crypto Expert Revises Bitcoin Bull Market Outlook Amid Shifting Metrics
CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju, who two months ago declared the end of the crypto bull run based on on-chain metrics, now acknowledges a misjudgment in his analysis. The rapidly evolving market dynamics have rendered previous indicators less effective, prompting a reassessment of Bitcoin’s current rally.
Ju’s initial conclusion relied heavily on historical data patterns that previously signaled market peaks. However, the cryptocurrency landscape has since undergone fundamental changes, undermining the reliability of those traditional metrics. This shift highlights the challenges of applying static models to an inherently volatile asset class.
Prosecutors Deny Brady Violation in Samourai Wallet Case
Prosecutors in the Samourai Wallet case have rejected claims of suppressing evidence against co-founders Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill. A recent court filing argues that delayed disclosure of FinCEN communications—which suggested Samourai Wallet didn’t qualify as a money transmitter—doesn’t constitute a legal violation.
The dispute centers on whether the crypto mixing service required licensing. FinCEN’s pre-trial guidance, disclosed six months after charges were filed, complicates the government’s stance. Judge Richard Berman must now weigh the defense’s request for a hearing on the matter.
Bitcoin’s Rally Linked to Global M2 Expansion, Says Macro Researcher
Bitcoin’s recent surge above $100,000 coincides with growing scrutiny of global liquidity trends. Julien Bittel, Head of Macro Research at Global Macro Investor, identifies expanding M2 money supply as a key driver for the cryptocurrency’s upward trajectory.
The rally gained momentum amid reports of U.S.-China trade talks in Switzerland, though analysts emphasize broader macroeconomic forces at play. Bitcoin briefly touched $104,000 before stabilizing NEAR $103,000, demonstrating continued institutional interest in digital assets as hedge against currency debasement.
CryptoQuant CEO Reverses Bitcoin Bull Run Stance as BTC Surges Past $100K
CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju has publicly retracted his bearish Bitcoin forecast, acknowledging sustained institutional demand through ETFs as a market-altering force. The reversal comes as BTC breaches the $100,000 psychological barrier, currently trading at $103,608—a 23% rally since Ju’s original call.
Institutional capital flows have rewritten Bitcoin’s traditional playbook. Where miners and retail traders once dominated cycles, spot Bitcoin ETFs now inject $1.2 billion in average daily liquidity. This structural shift caught many analysts off guard, including Ju who admits underestimating Wall Street’s appetite for crypto exposure.
The market evolution mirrors gold’s institutionalization in the early 2000s. BlackRock’s IBIT alone holds 300,000 BTC—equivalent to 1.5% of total supply. Such concentrated buying pressure creates what Ju calls ’a new price discovery mechanism,’ with corrections likely to be shallower than previous cycles.
