David Edwards
Metaplanet and El Salvador made strategic Bitcoin acquisitions before the cryptocurrency market experienced a 5% decline over 10 hours on Feb. 25. Japanese investment firm Metaplanet acquired 135 BTC for $13 million at an average price of $96,185 per Bitcoin, while El Salvador added 7 BTC to its national treasury at an approximate price of $94,050 per Bitcoin on Feb. 24. Both purchases occurred before Bitcoin fell below $91,000 in early trading hours on Feb. 25.
Although Bitcoin has since rebounded to $92,260, market sentiment has declined to its lowest level in over five months.
Metaplanet’s Bitcoin Strategy and Market Position
Metaplanet’s latest acquisition brings its total Bitcoin holdings to 2,225 BTC, valued at over $205 million. The company, led by Simon Gerovich, maintains an average purchase price of $81,834 per Bitcoin, reflecting a 12.7% gain since adopting Bitcoin as a treasury asset in April 2023.
Additionally, the firm reported a 23.3% quarter-to-date increase in BTC Yield, a metric tracking the ratio between Bitcoin holdings and diluted shares, positioning it to meet its 35% quarterly growth target for Q1.
Despite this accumulation, Metaplanet’s share price (TYO: 3350) on the Tokyo Stock Exchange fell 0.16% to ¥6,130 ($41.06) following the announcement during the Feb. 25 lunch break, according to Google Finance data.
Metaplanet currently ranks 14th among corporate Bitcoin holders worldwide, per BitBo’s BitcoinTreasuries.NET data.
El Salvador Strengthens Bitcoin Reserves Amid Policy Adjustments
El Salvador’s recent 7 BTC acquisition marks a deviation from its standard one Bitcoin per day accumulation strategy, as reported by the National Bitcoin Office.
The purchase coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirming a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, a development that contributed to market volatility.
El Salvador now holds 6,088 BTC, valued at approximately $560.7 million at current prices. However, as part of a $1.4 billion agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the country has committed to scaling back certain Bitcoin-related policies, including removing the requirement for merchants to accept Bitcoin as a form of payment.
Bitcoin ETF Outflows Signal Market Uncertainty
On Feb. 24, at least eight spot Bitcoin ETFs from seven issuers recorded combined outflows of $357.8 million, according to Farside Investors.
The Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund experienced the most significant outflow at $247 million, followed by BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, which saw $159 million in withdrawals, per preliminary data from HODL15Capital.
As institutional investors reassess their positions, Bitcoin’s price action and macroeconomic developments will continue shaping market sentiment in the near term.
