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The post Metaplanet Launches $5.4B Bitcoin Equity Raise appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News Metaplanet has announced a ¥770.9 billion (~$5.4 billion) equity raise focused on Bitcoin by issuing 555 million moving strike warrants, the first in Japan to be priced above market value. The company plans to hold 100,000 BTC by the end of 2026 and increase to 210,000 BTC by 2027, representing roughly 1% of Bitcoin’s total supply. This ambitious move underscores Metaplanet’s dedication to becoming a leading force in the Bitcoin space.
COINOTAG News reported on June 6th that significant options expiries are shaping the crypto market dynamics. According to Greek.Live analyst Adam, approximately 31,000 BTC options are set to expire, with
Key Takeaways: Metaplanet plans to acquire 210,000 BTC by 2027, targeting 1% of Bitcoin’s total supply. A new ¥770 billion share issuance will fund the aggressive expansion of its Bitcoin holdings. The firm has already climbed to tenth globally with 8,888 BTC and is pursuing a 600% BTC yield this year. Japanese investment firm Metaplanet has unveiled an ambitious new target to amass 210,000 Bitcoin by the end of 2027. The firm announced to raise $5.4 billion to accelerate its Bitcoin purchase by issuing 555 million shares of Moving-Strike Warrants, a first of its kind raise in Japan’s market of this size. The move, outlined in its updated “555 Million Plan,” would give the company ownership of roughly 1% of Bitcoin’s maximum supply. The announcement marks a major acceleration from Metaplanet’s prior “21 Million Plan,” under which it aimed for 21,000 BTC by 2026. Metaplanet Climbs to Global Top 10 Bitcoin Holder After surpassing interim goals and climbing to 8,888 BTC, placing it tenth globally in corporate Bitcoin holdings, the company is now setting its sights far higher. To fund this aggressive acquisition drive, Metaplanet will issue 555 million new shares through moving strike warrants, an innovative financing mechanism designed to optimize capital raising with minimal dilution. If fully exercised, this issuance could generate an estimated ¥770 billion (approximately $5.4 billion) at an initial strike price of ¥1,388 per share. The new plan is structured to gradually ramp up BTC holdings. This includes 30,000 BTC targeted by year-end 2025, 100,000 BTC by 2026, and 210,000 BTC by 2027. “Thrilled to announce Asia’s largest-ever equity raise to buy Bitcoin — again! This time: $5.4 billion to accelerate our Bitcoin strategy. Our new target: 210,000 BTC by 2027,” Metaplanet CEO Simon Gerovich said in a post on X. Thrilled to announce Asia’s largest-ever equity raise to buy Bitcoin — again! This time: $5.4 billion to accelerate our Bitcoin strategy. Our new target: 210,000 BTC by 2027. Details here: https://t.co/ahL27o9QBg pic.twitter.com/njYybVq1uu — Simon Gerovich (@gerovich) June 6, 2025 Metaplanet’s strategy leverages Japan’s deep capital markets, where demand for regulated Bitcoin exposure remains strong. The company’s stock, one of Japan’s most liquid, offers domestic investors an accessible, tax-advantaged vehicle to gain BTC exposure—a notable advantage given Japan’s lack of spot Bitcoin ETFs. The firm’s execution to date has been swift. Its previous capital raise of ¥102.8 billion fueled a 225.4% increase in BTC holdings year-to-date. It now aims to deliver an even more aggressive 600% BTC yield by the end of 2025. Metaplanet’s move draws parallels to MicroStrategy’s pioneering Bitcoin-backed securities approach, which aims to position itself as a bridge between traditional finance and Bitcoin-native capital formation. Public Companies Continue to Invest in Bitcoin Meanwhile, the number of public companies holding Bitcoin continues to grow. According to data from BitcoinTreasuries.NET, 116 public firms have now added Bitcoin to their balance sheets. Recent additions include GameStop and Swedish health tech company H100. MicroStrategy remains the largest corporate Bitcoin holder, with 580,250 BTC worth approximately $60.9 billion. Other major holders include Marathon Digital Holdings and Tesla, both with over $1 billion in Bitcoin. As reported, digital asset companies are flooding capital markets to raise funds for large-scale Bitcoin acquisitions , spurred by the cryptocurrency’s rally to a record $111,965 last week. The surge, up more than 50% from early April, has ignited a wave of listings and mergers as firms race to secure funding while investor appetite remains strong. More recently, Trump Media & Technology Group confirmed plans to raise $2.5 billion to buy crypto, joining a growing list of firms mimicking MicroStrategy’s blueprint. The post Metaplanet Announces $5.4B Capital Raise to Buy Bitcoin, Targets 210,000 BTC by 2027 appeared first on Cryptonews .
The post $31M Bitcoin Gift to Ross Ulbricht Traced to Alphabay Dark Web Wallet appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News The recent $31 million Bitcoin donation to Ross Ulbricht, the once-imprisoned founder of Silk Road, has stunned the crypto world. Investigators now say the funds are likely tied to Alphabay , another infamous dark web marketplace , reviving concerns over illicit crypto flows . Tracing the Bitcoin: Alphabay Connection According to a June 5 report by WIRED , blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis traced the donation—over 300 BTC —to a wallet associated with Alphabay. The firm suspects the sender may have been a former Alphabay vendor , although their identity remains unknown. Phil Larratt, Director at Chainalysis, noted that the funds were likely moved through crypto mixing services to obscure their origin before reaching Ulbricht’s donation address. ZachXBT Confirms Use of Mixing Services Independent blockchain investigator ZachXBT supported these claims, highlighting the use of common obfuscation tactics: Multiple crypto mixers Small, staggered cash-outs Transfers via various centralized exchanges One of the mixing tools used in this case was identified as Jambler , a centralized crypto mixer known for helping disguise illicit fund trails. Alphabay and Its Dark Legacy Alphabay gained notoriety as the largest darknet market following Silk Road’s shutdown in 2013. It was taken down during Operation Bayonet in 2017, a coordinated global effort involving law enforcement agencies and blockchain experts, including Chainalysis. Both Alphabay and Silk Road were known for enabling illegal activities such as drug sales and money laundering using cryptocurrency , especially Bitcoin. Ross Ulbricht’s Controversial Legacy Ross Ulbricht , creator of Silk Road, was convicted in 2015 and sentenced to double life imprisonment plus 40 years . However, in a dramatic turn of events, he was pardoned by former U.S. President Donald Trump on January 21, 2025 . The recent Bitcoin donation suggests that Ulbricht still commands support from darknet-linked actors , despite being behind bars for nearly a decade. What This Means for Crypto Regulation The incident underscores the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between law enforcement and darknet-linked crypto actors. It also highlights the persistent challenges of tracing illicit crypto transactions , especially with the rise of mixing services and privacy tools.
United States authorities have launched a forfeiture action to seize millions in crypto funneled to North Korea through a global network of fake IT workers embedded in blockchain firms. According to a June 5 statement from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the agency is seeking to confiscate over $7.74 million in digital assets allegedly earned through illicit employment and laundering schemes designed to evade U.S. sanctions. The funds were initially frozen in April 2023 following the indictment of Sim Hyon Sop , a North Korean Foreign Trade Bank representative based in China, accused of conspiring with DPRK IT workers to funnel crypto earnings back to the regime. Authorities allege these funds were part of a coordinated laundering effort that included chain hopping, token swaps, and fictitious identities to obscure their origin. In its complaint filed in a Washington D.C. federal court, the DOJ has targeted multiple forms of digital property, including Bitcoin, stablecoins, non-fungible tokens, and Ethereum Name Service domains. You might also like: Crypto exchange Kraken flags North Korean infiltration attempt through fake job application Officials allege these operations were part of a broader effort by North Korea to sidestep international sanctions and fund its weapons programme through cyber-enabled revenue streams. “Sanctions are in place against North Korea for a reason, and we will diligently investigate and prosecute anyone who tries to evade them. We will halt your progress, strike back, and take hold of any proceeds you obtained illegally,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro said in an accompanying statement. With DPRK-linked hackers reportedly stealing over $1.6 billion from crypto firms in 2024 alone, U.S. officials say more aggressive action is required. The DOJ’s latest Action is part of the broader “DPRK RevGen: Domestic Enabler Initiative,” launched in March 2024 to disrupt North Korea’s revenue-generation networks. A growing threat to crypto North Korean operatives have been linked to some of the largest cryptocurrency heists in recent years, with malicious IT workers increasingly playing a central role in breaching blockchain firms from the inside. Often operating under stolen or fabricated identities, these individuals secure remote jobs at crypto and tech companies, where they typically request payment in stablecoins like USDC and Tether, a tactic believed to help mask their true locations. Once employed, these positions provide a financial lifeline to the regime and, in some cases, access that can later be exploited. Illicit earnings from these roles are often funneled back to the regime through a web of laundering techniques, including fake accounts, small-value transfers, cross-chain swaps, and NFT purchases, before being rerouted, sometimes via sanctioned intermediaries like Chinyong , a company tied to North Korea’s Ministry of Defense. In recent years, North Korean IT workers have continued to expand their operations, adapting their tactics and shifting targets as enforcement efforts intensify . According to an April 2025 report from Google’s Threat Intelligence Group, North Korean IT operatives were increasingly targeting European blockchain firms after heightened scrutiny in the United States. The report detailed cases of DPRK workers building Solana smart contracts and job marketplaces in the UK, often using elaborate webs of fake references and identities to pass recruitment checks. Last month, cryptocurrency trading platform Kraken intercepted one such attempt when a job applicant raised red flags during the recruitment process. Further investigation revealed the candidate was a North Korean operative linked to a broader network of infiltrators who had already secured roles at other crypto firms. Read more: North Korea’s latest crypto hack reveals Web3’s security weakness: pro
Hong Kong has officially legalized cryptocurrency derivatives trading exclusively for professional investors, signaling a strategic push to attract institutional capital and strengthen its position as a leading digital asset hub
Bitcoin ETFs in the US experienced significant outflows totaling $278 million amid escalating tensions between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, signaling a shift in investor sentiment. Conversely, Ether ETFs maintained
While Bitcoin ETFs flipped to $278 million of outflows amid the Trump-Musk feud, Ether ETFs saw inflows, continuing a 14-day inflow streak.
Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) has filed a Form S-3 with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday for its massive $2.3 billion Bitcoin treasury deal. The filing is tied to recent debt and equity agreements with 50 investors. The registration statement relates to 56 million shares of equity and 29 million shares related to convertible notes. Bitcoin Treasury Push: CEO Says Company Aims to Acquire “Crown Jewel Assets” The fund will be used to acquire Bitcoin and for general corporate purposes, an official release noted . However, the company has not disclosed how much Bitcoin it plans to purchase. Additionally, the filing includes a universal shelf provision to offer flexibility for future initiatives like mergers and capital raising offerings. TMTG CEO Devin Nunes said that the company is exploring all elements needed for its growth and plans, including acquiring “crown jewel assets.” “These activities will provide the Company with the capital, assets, independence, flexibility, and security we need to fulfill our goals of rapid expansion, guaranteeing a wide array of ways to access the capital markets when it’s most advantageous to do so,” he said. TMTG Bitcoin ETF Plans: Will it Be Anywhere Close to Existing Crypto ETFs? TMTG, the media group behind Trump’s Truth Social, has already signed a deal with Crypto.com and Yorkville America Digital to launch a suite of exchange-traded funds under the Truth.Fi brand. Trump Media has signed a deal with @cryptocom and Yorkville to launch a series of ETFs combining digital assets and U.S.-focused investments. #trump #etf https://t.co/pyvQqgC5Gz — Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) April 22, 2025 The funds will combine exposure to digital assets with investments in U.S.-focused sectors such as energy, the company said in April . If approved, the Truth Social Bitcoin ETF will have Crypto.com as its exclusive custodian and liquidity provider. The ETF would join the increasing number of crypto-related products that are waiting to get approval from the regulator. The new fund will carry exclusive clauses. The filing noted that one of the largest crypto exchanges, Crypto.com, will offer certain services to the trust behind the product. The ETF’s launch comes as the price of Bitcoin has hit above $100,000 amid a wave of optimism. However, given that there is a flurry of spot Bitcoin funds, Truth Social ETF would only join a crowded field, trying to gain the trust of the institutional investment community. “I think it’s extraordinarily unlikely that products like [Truth Social Bitcoin ETF] gain long-term assets,” Dave Nadig, an independent ETF expert, told the FT. The post Trump Media Files Form S-3 With SEC For $2.3B Bitcoin Treasury Deal appeared first on Cryptonews .