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Metaplanet Inc. moved again into the Bitcoin zone as part of its treasury plan, buying 136 Bitcoin for about $15.2 million at an average price of $111,783 per coin.

According to the company, that brings its total holdings to 20,136 coins. The purchase keeps Metaplanet among the larger corporate holders of the crypto.

Metaplanet Expands Bitcoin Stack

The company reported the fresh buy on Monday. Based on reports, Metaplanet now sits as the sixth-largest corporate holder of Bitcoin.

At the time of the purchase, Bitcoin traded around $111,580, putting the new units close to current market levels. The move underscores how some firms are turning parts of their balance sheets into crypto exposure rather than sticking only to their core businesses.

Market Reaction Was Cool

Shares of Metaplanet did not climb after the disclosure. They fell 2.3% in Tokyo trade on Monday and were trading near a four-month low, extending nearly a 20% rout from the prior week.

Reports show the stock slide has tracked a drop in Bitcoin’s price after profit-taking followed August’s record highs. Investors appear skittish when a company’s share price is tied tightly to a volatile asset.

*Metaplanet Acquires Additional 136 $BTC, Total Holdings Reach 20,136 BTC* pic.twitter.com/c41t6bJg1L

— Metaplanet Inc. (@Metaplanet_JP) September 8, 2025

Investors Weigh ETFs Versus Direct Exposure

Part of the pushback comes from alternatives. Exchange-traded funds now give retail and institutional investors direct bitcoin exposure without owning a company whose core business may not reflect the crypto bet.

Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, remains the biggest corporate holder with 636,505 coins. Strategy logged nearly a 15% loss in August as Bitcoin pulled back, showing how a firm’s valuation can swing with crypto prices.

Questions have been raised about whether holding Bitcoin on a company balance sheet still offers the same appeal it once did.

Valuation And Volatility Concerns Persist

Metaplanet’s market value — around $5 billion, based on recent trading — has drawn scrutiny because it exceeds the current market value of the bitcoin on its books.

Critics warn that tying a company’s shares to Bitcoin can make the stock more vulnerable to crypto’s swings. New players, including Metaplanet and Gamestop, tried to copy the strategy and have met mixed results so far.

Market Crowding Could Limit Future Gains

Analysts also point to crowding: many companies chasing the same story could blunt future upside for treasury-play stocks if fresh buyers stop showing up.

Strategy achieved big gains after late-2023 purchases, funded in part through large share and debt issuances. That path may be harder to repeat now that more investment routes exist.

For now, Metaplanet keeps adding to its bitcoin pile while its shares remain under pressure. Reports suggest the next moves by both Bitcoin and markets will decide whether that bet looks smart or risky in hindsight.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

A man from the United Kingdom who accidentally misplaced his crypto wallet containing a $1 billion stash of Bitcoin (BTC) is launching a new bid to tokenize his missing stash.

In a post on the social media platform X, James Howells – a man who mistakenly threw away his crypto wallet containing the BTC nearly a decade ago – says he’s not giving up despite being rejected numerous times by the Newport City Council to launch a search to find the coins.

“For over 12 years, I tried everything to engage with Newport City Council: public proposals, percentages, mediation, legal action, and a formal $25 million offer. $1 Billion and they ignored it all. No response. No logic. No leadership. They want me to give up, but I am done asking for permission.”

Howells says he’s going to tokenize the entire missing wallet, which contains 8,000 BTC, by launching a new blockchain called Ceiniog Coin (INI) that is set to launch in late 2025.

“I’m tokenizing the entire wallet – 8,000 BTC – into 800 billion Ceiniog Coin (INI) – 1:1 satoshi value match.

• • Built on Bitcoin
• • Powered by OP_RETURN
• • Integrates with Stacks, Runes, Ordinals
• • Launching Late-2025

To the established and distinguished gatekeepers who blocked me for over a decade: You can block the gates. You can pack the courts. But you cannot block the blockchain. Crypto already won. Ceiniog is coming – and your world is collapsing.”

According to previous reports, Howells offered the city council $70 million in 2021 for permission to search the landfill to recover his hard drive, but was rejected due to environmental concerns.

In February, the city council announced that the landfill was formally closing down sometime during the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

BTC is trading for $115,429 at time of writing, a 2% gain on the day.

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Strategy co-founder Michael Saylor signaled an impending Bitcoin (BTC) purchase on Sunday, as the company’s total holdings crossed $71 billion.

The treasury company’s most recent purchase occurred on July 14, when it bought 4,225 BTC for $472.5 million, bringing its total holdings to 601,550 BTC, valued at over $71.4 billion.

The company is up about 66.5% on its Bitcoin investment, accounting for over $28.5 billion in unrealized gains, according to SaylorTracker.

Bitcoin treasury companies, led by Strategy, continue to be one of the main drivers of Bitcoin demand in the current market cycle, alongside exchange-traded funds (ETFs), institutional investors, and centralized crypto exchanges.

Related: Lawsuits piling up against Strategy could take years, go nowhere, lawyer says

Strategy’s valuation surges alongside $4 trillion total crypto market cap

The company’s stock surged by about 21.52% in the last month, bringing Strategy’s total valuation to over $118 billion. 

Strategy’s stock rally came amid a rise in the crypto market, with the total crypto market capitalization crossing the $4 trillion mark in July and Bitcoin hitting a new all-time high.

In December 2024, the BTC treasury company entered the Nasdaq 100 stock market index as institutional demand for Strategy’s stock grew.

Certain institutional investors want exposure to Bitcoin but cannot hold Bitcoin directly in their investment funds. These investors hold shares of Bitcoin treasury companies or purchase their corporate debt products as a proxy for holding BTC.

“There are trillions of dollars of managed capital, and some of that has strict mandates associated with it,” macroeconomist Lyn Alden wrote. 

“There are stock funds where the portfolio manager can only buy stocks. He or she cannot buy bonds, ETFs, or commodities,” Alden gave as an example of the types of restrictions placed on asset managers.

Vanguard, one of the biggest institutional investment firms, has long opposed holding Bitcoin or offering Bitcoin directly to clients, but now holds 20 million shares of Strategy, or about 8% of the company’s outstanding stock.

The investment firm’s indirect exposure to Bitcoin through a publicly traded company highlights Bitcoin’s integration into traditional finance through legacy investment vehicles.

Magazine: Bitcoin OG Willy Woo has sold most of his Bitcoin: Here’s why

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/saylor-signals-bitcoin-buy-as-strategys-stash-climbs-to-over-71b/feed/ 0 48744 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitmine-and-sharplink-amass-1b-stash-amid-ethereums-rising-appeal-as-digital-oil/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitmine-and-sharplink-amass-1b-stash-amid-ethereums-rising-appeal-as-digital-oil/#respond Fri, 18 Jul 2025 05:41:19 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitmine-and-sharplink-amass-1b-stash-amid-ethereums-rising-appeal-as-digital-oil/

Ethereum-focused firms BitMine and SharpLink Gaming have each surpassed $1 billion in ETH holdings.

BitMine disclosed on July 17 that it now holds 300,657 ETH, valued at approximately $1.04 billion. The firm acquired its holdings at an average price of $3,461.89 per token.

Conversely, SharpLink Gaming has also expanded its Ethereum position, purchasing an additional $68.4 million worth of ETH.

Blockchain analysis platform Arkham Intelligence pointed out that this latest purchase, combined with ETH’s price appreciation, brings SharpLink’s total holdings to an estimated $1.10 billion, not including any staking rewards.

Meanwhile, separate data from the Strategic ETH Reserve places SharpLink’s wallet at 280,600 ETH, worth about $962.8 million at the time of the report.

According to Oblong Research, this wave of institutional purchases reflects a broader realization that Ethereum is not just a speculative asset but a foundational layer for the growing on-chain economy.

With roughly $237 billion in value secured on its network, ETH is increasingly viewed as “digital oil,”  a productive base asset that powers a wide range of decentralized applications.

The US Marshals Service (USMS) appears to hold just under 29,000 Bitcoin, far lower than the more than 200,000 BTC many believed the government had in custody.

The updated figure, confirmed via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by independent crypto journalist L0la L33tz on July 16, puts the government’s total at 28,988 BTC as of March 2025.

At current prices, that stash is worth roughly $3.4 billion. That starkly contrasts with the $23.5 billion estimate from blockchain analytics platforms like Arkham Intelligence and Bitcoin Treasuries.

The discrepancy has ignited speculation across the crypto space, with some observers questioning whether the US has been quietly selling its Bitcoin holdings.

[Editor’s Note: Given that President Trump announced that seized Bitcoin would become part of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve earlier this year, it is also possible that the Bitcoin is simply no longer under US Marshals custody. However, who controls the keys for the Bitcoin tracked onchain remains unclear.]

Is the US selling its Bitcoin?

Bitcoin Magazine CEO David Bailey suggested the US likely sold significant portions of its BTC reserves before President Donald Trump’s swearing-in in January. He noted that the lack of visible on-chain activity may not prove anything due to custodial involvement.

He stated:

“I think it is conclusive they’ve been selling without creating onchain footprint.”

Bitcoin analyst Sani, who tracks addresses suspected to be linked to US government wallets, confirmed no recent transactions from those addresses.

However, he pointed out that if custodians like Coinbase were facilitating off-chain swaps, traditional blockchain tracking may no longer clarify government activity.

Sani added:

“If that’s truly what’s happening, then all the on-chain tracking we’ve been doing, mine included, might not matter anymore.”

Senator Cynthia Lummis, a vocal advocate for a national Bitcoin reserve, responded with concern to this development. She said:

“If true, this is a total strategic blunder and sets the United States back years in the bitcoin race.”

Seized vs. forfeited Bitcoin

L33tz clarified that the FOIA request only covered “forfeited” Bitcoin assets legally transferred to government ownership.

According to her, many seized assets, such as those tied to ongoing investigations or hacks like Bitfinex, are not yet government property and may reside with other federal agencies like the DEA or FBI.

She emphasized that platforms like Arkham may misrepresent totals by lumping together seized and forfeited coins. L33tz pointed out:

“For example, Arkham lists 94k BTC from the Bitfinex hack, but forfeiture in the Bitfinex case hasnt been decided, at least last time I checked.”

Blockchain security expert Taylor Monahan also offered further explanation, pointing out that legal custody does not equal ownership.

She noted that in many cases, seized coins remain victims’ property and will never become US government assets.

Monahan highlighted ongoing legal processes, ranging from civil forfeiture to IEEPA, determining the fate of seized property.

She cited several examples, including a case where the FBI currently holds $40 million in crypto linked to an August 2024 theft, but these coins are expected to be returned to the rightful owner under the terms of a plea agreement.

Considering this, Monhan stated:

“Most of the time the coins seized by USG do not become property of the USG. They are returned to the victim that was hacked or defrauded.”

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Arkham Intelligence has disclosed that the creator of Bitcoin – known only as Satoshi Nakamoto – now holds roughly 1.96 million BTC. At today’s prices, that stash is worth about $120 billion. According to Arkham, this makes Nakamoto the 11th richest person on Earth. His share adds up to 5.2% of all Bitcoin ever mined.

Satoshi’s Bitcoin Cache Grows

The mystery around Nakamoto deepens as these wallets haven’t moved since 2011. They remained untouched when Bitcoin was still a fringe experiment. Now, those same addresses tower over many national treasuries. Even a small sale could reshape prices.

Bitcoin Hits New Heights Under Price Rally

Bitcoin recently spiked to almost $112,000 before sliding back toward $110,000. In November 2021, its previous high was near $67,000. Today’s surge more than doubles that peak. This rapid climb has sent shockwaves through both crypto veterans and new buyers.

Satoshi Nakamoto now holds $120 BILLION USD of Bitcoin.

He owns 5.2% of the BTC supply, making him the 11th richest person in the world. pic.twitter.com/cX6D1nYjqG

— Arkham (@arkham) May 26, 2025

Crypto Versus Corporate Giants

Based on market data, Bitcoin’s total value hit about $2.16 trillion. That figure eclipsed Amazon’s roughly $2.13 trillion market cap. Investors now list the crypto among the top five global assets. Still, Bitcoin is a decentralized token, while Amazon is a single company. Some experts warn it’s not a neat comparison.

Big Players And Market Moves

Michael Saylor’s firm, Strategy, bought 4,020 BTC between May 19 and 25, bringing its total to 580,250 BTC. Yet Strategy’s stock dipped over 7% in pre-market trading on May 26. That drop shows Wall Street can shrug off big BTC buys.

Meanwhile, Robert Kiyosaki, author of “Rich Dad Poor Dad”, called Bitcoin “real money” and warned that fiat cash might lose its grip on trust. He pointed to Gresham’s Law and Metcalfe’s Law to make his case.

The mystery surrounding the real identity of Satoshi Nakamoto deepens. Image: Kucoin.

Institutional interest is one factor. Another is the rollout of spot Bitcoin ETFs in several markets. These funds let big investors buy Bitcoin without wrestling with private keys. That move has lifted demand even when retail buyers step back.

Still, some in the crypto community worry about the silent wallets. No one really knows if Satoshi might ever move those coins. If he did, prices could wobble. A sudden sell-off of even a small slice—say 100,000 BTC—would flood the market. Right now, the mere thought keeps traders on edge.

Today’s numbers shine a spotlight on how far Bitcoin has come. From a few cents per coin to more than $110,000, it’s been a wild ride. But the giant stash held by an unknown creator adds a new layer of drama. For now, those coins stay frozen in time. And that mystery, like the price swings, is part of what keeps people talking.

Featured image from Wexo, chart from TradingView

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.