Metaplanet Secures $100 Million Bitcoin-Backed Loan to Expand Corporate Treasury Strategy
Tokyo-listed investment company Metaplanet executed a $100 million borrowing on October 31 using its Bitcoin holdings as collateral. According to Cointelegraph, the funds were drawn from a recently established $500 million credit facility. The loan will support additional cryptocurrency acquisitions, expand the company's options trading business, and potentially fund share repurchases.
The borrowing represents just 3% of Metaplanet's total Bitcoin reserve of 30,823 BTC, valued at approximately $3.5 billion at the end of October. The loan carries a benchmark US dollar rate plus a spread and has no fixed maturity date. The company can repay the loan at any time. The lender's identity was not disclosed in the filing.
Metaplanet maintains what it describes as conservative financial management. The company confirmed it holds sufficient collateral capacity even during potential price declines. The firm expects minimal impact on fiscal year 2025 financial results from the current borrowing but pledged to announce any material changes.
Why This Move Matters for Bitcoin Treasury Companies
The borrowing comes as Metaplanet pursues an aggressive Bitcoin accumulation strategy. The company aims to acquire 210,000 BTC by the end of 2027. A portion of the borrowed capital will fund Metaplanet's Income Business, which creates and sells cash-secured Bitcoin options. According to Cryptonews, sales for this division are projected to reach 2.44 billion yen in the third quarter of 2025. This represents a 3.5-fold increase from the prior year's 690 million yen.
The options strategy allows the company to earn income during market volatility. Funds allocated to this business will serve as margin for operations aimed at capturing option premiums. The approach provides downside protection through collected premiums while maintaining cryptocurrency exposure.
Metaplanet recently launched a 75 billion yen share buyback program after its market-based net asset value fell below 1.0. The company's market-to-net-asset-value ratio dropped to 0.99 last month. Representative Director Simon Gerovich characterized the repurchase initiative as designed to enhance capital efficiency when valuation multiples compress. We previously reported that 15 US states moved forward with plans for Bitcoin reserves, demonstrating growing institutional and governmental interest in cryptocurrency as a treasury asset.
Industry Implications for Corporate Crypto Treasuries
Metaplanet's financing structure reflects a broader trend of corporations exploring Bitcoin-backed lending solutions. Companies with large digital asset holdings are increasingly using these positions to access traditional capital markets without selling their cryptocurrency. This approach allows firms to maintain exposure to potential price appreciation while unlocking liquidity for operations or expansion.
The corporate crypto treasury movement has reached what Coinbase Research describes as a "player-versus-player" competitive phase. Companies must now differentiate through strategic positioning rather than relying on guaranteed premiums from early Bitcoin adoption. Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, continues to lead the sector with over 629,000 BTC holdings as of August 2025.
However, the model carries risks. S&P Global Ratings recently issued a "B-" speculative-grade rating to Strategy. The rating agency cited heavy Bitcoin concentration, limited liquidity, and narrow business focus as key concerns. Recent research from 10x Research revealed that some Bitcoin treasury firms have seen their net asset values collapse. Columbia Business School professor Omid Malekan recently characterized digital asset treasuries as a "mass extraction and exit event."
Bitcoin recently entered bear market territory with a 20% decline from its October record high. The decline wiped over $1 trillion from total crypto market capitalization. For companies employing Bitcoin-backed financing strategies, careful risk management and conservative loan-to-value ratios remain essential to avoid forced liquidation during market downturns. Metaplanet's 3% collateral utilization demonstrates this cautious approach as the company balances growth ambitions with financial stability.
