Capital Group, one of America's leading investment firms with over $2.3 trillion in assets under management, has acquired an 11.45% stake in Metaplanet, a Tokyo-based Bitcoin treasury firm, becoming its largest shareholder. The investment, valued at approximately $500 million, was executed through Capital Group's subsidiary, Capital Research and Management Company, increasing its voting rights from 8.31% to 11.45%.
Metaplanet has significantly expanded its Bitcoin portfolio, recently purchasing 5,419 BTC worth around $633 million, bringing its total holdings to roughly 25,500 BTC. This positions Metaplanet among the top five corporate Bitcoin treasuries globally, highlighting its aggressive strategy to secure Bitcoin as a long-term asset.
Capital Group's move reflects its ongoing commitment to gaining exposure to Bitcoin through equity stakes in companies with substantial BTC holdings, rather than direct ownership. Previously, the firm held a 12.3% stake in MicroStrategy, now valued at about $6.2 billion, demonstrating a pattern of leveraging corporate treasuries to participate in Bitcoin's institutional adoption.
At the time of the news, Bitcoin was trading near $111,000, down 4.5% on the week, amid broader market volatility. This investment by a conservative, 94-year-old firm signals growing institutional confidence in Bitcoin's role as a digital asset class.