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Web3 infrastructure provider Metaplanet, following its $6.56 million Bitcoin (BTC) investment with Sora Ventures, Morgan Creek Capital’s Mark Yusko, and others, saw a tremendous increase in its listed shares. The company’s shares surged by almost 90% within two days of this announcement.
Bitcoin Investment Viewed as a Hedge Against Inflation
Initially operating as an economic hotel operator under the name Red Planet, and later becoming a Web3 software developer, Metaplanet aimed to minimize its reliance on the Japanese yen.
In an update to its shareholders, it was mentioned that the Japanese yen had been suffering from a long-standing low-interest environment and was losing its position as a global currency. The Bank of Japan’s decision to raise interest rates for the first time in 17 years from minus 0.1% to 0-0.1% in March further reinforced this situation.
Metaplanet’s decision to include Bitcoin in its balance sheet was based on the potential to serve as a hedge against inflation, provide macroeconomic flexibility, and establish a foundation for long-term capital appreciation.
Bitcoin Strategy Shows Imitation of MicroStrategy
This strategy mimics the approach taken by Virginia-based software developer MicroStrategy Tysons Corner in 2020 to increase its Bitcoin holdings. Since then, the company’s share price has often reflected fluctuations in Bitcoin’s price, mirroring investor sentiment towards the cryptocurrency market.
Currently holding over 214,000 Bitcoins valued at more than $15 billion, the company stands as Bitcoin’s largest corporate holder.
Crypto Assets and Tax Issues Affecting Japanese Investors
Recently, debates on cryptocurrencies and taxation have been a hot topic in Japan. Jason Fang, managing partner and founding partner of Sora Ventures, shed light on tax issues affecting Japanese investors, making a significant statement in this area.
According to Fang, Japanese investors are looking for alternative ways to avoid tax liabilities arising from the returns on crypto assets. One method could be to invest in crypto through a public company, rather than holding the asset itself, which is subject to high taxes on unrealized crypto gains.
Legal Regulations Expected
The issue is controversial. There is no clear roadmap on how the Japanese government will tax crypto assets. Tax regulations and how crypto assets will be treated have been a topic of discussion among lawmakers and regulators and have evolved over time.
The announcement by Japan’s National Tax Agency in June 2023 that it would introduce some exemptions for tokens issued by crypto initiatives may reduce some of the uncertainty in this area. However, a definitive solution has not yet been found.
