Bakkt Makes Power Move: Snaps Up 30% of Japan’s MarushoHotta for Bitcoin Domination

Wall Street’s favorite crypto play just went full samurai. Bakkt—the institutional darling once known for its physically settled Bitcoin futures—just grabbed a 30% stake in Japanese brokerage MarushoHotta. Guess who’s bringing Bitcoin to the Land of the Rising Sun?

Why This Isn’t Just Another Corporate Handshake

Forget boring mergers—this is a calculated strike into one of Asia’s most regulated markets. Japan’s FSA doesn’t play nice with crypto cowboys, but Bakkt’s playing the long game. With MarushoHotta’s licenses and Bakkt’s infrastructure, they’re building a bridge for institutional BTC flows. Clever? Or desperate to justify that sinking stock price?

The Bitcoin Pivot Nobody Saw Coming

Three years ago, Bakkt was ICE’s golden child. Now? They’re betting the farm on crypto adoption. The MarushoHotta deal screams one thing: real-world Bitcoin integration. Think trading desks, custody solutions, maybe even retail onboarding—all wrapped in Japan’s compliance-friendly bow.

Wall Street’s watching. Crypto Twitter’s mocking. And somewhere in Tokyo, a salaryman just asked, ‘What’s a Bakkt?’ Game on.