Metaplanet Appoints Eric Trump as Strategic Advisor

Event Background: Metaplanet’s Strategic Transformation and Market Reaction

On March 21, 2025, Japanese Bitcoin investment firm Metaplanet announced the appointment of Eric Trump, son of former U.S. President Donald Trump, as the first member of its newly established Strategic Advisory Committee. Following the announcement, Metaplanet’s stock price surged by 17.8% within 80 minutes of the Tokyo Stock Exchange opening, reaching 4,730 yen (approximately $31.74), reflecting strong market interest in the “political resources + cryptocurrency” model.

Metaplanet was formerly known as Red Planet Japan, a hotel operator in Japan, which transformed into a Bitcoin investment company after its subsidiary went bankrupt in 2024. Currently, its Bitcoin holdings amount to 3,050 BTC (valued at approximately $4.1 billion), ranking 12th among global corporate holdings, with plans to increase its holdings to 10,000 BTC by the end of 2025, aiming to become the “MicroStrategy of Asia.” The appointment of Eric Trump is seen as a key step in accelerating Metaplanet’s Bitcoin corporatization strategy.

Strategic Drivers: Integration of Political Resources and Bitcoin Economy

Eric Trump’s inclusion is significant not only for his experience in business and real estate but also for the political resources and crypto policy influence he brings. Eric is a public supporter of Bitcoin; at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Bitcoin Summit, he predicted that Bitcoin’s price would break the $1 million mark and advocated for “America to become a hub of crypto innovation.” His father, Donald Trump, proposed a “Bitcoin Strategic Reserve” plan during the 2024 campaign, hinting at potential federal-level crypto-friendly policies in the future.

Metaplanet’s strategic intent is clear:

1. Policy Coordination: Leverage Eric’s connection to the Trump family’s political network to pave the way for potential policy dividends. If the Trump administration advances Bitcoin-related legislation (such as a stablecoin law or tax incentives), Metaplanet could be among the first beneficiaries.
2. Market Expansion: Eric’s global influence can help Metaplanet expand into European and American markets, attracting traditional financial institutions and sovereign wealth funds to consider Bitcoin asset allocation.

Metaplanet also plans to develop Bitcoin staking lending products and collaborate with decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols to enhance the liquidity utilization of its holdings, for instance, by enabling multi-chain asset interoperability through JuCoin.

Market Impact: Short-Term Boost and Long-Term Industry Effects

Short-Term Market Reaction:
The announcement led to a stock price surge of 17.8% and a brief spike in Bitcoin’s price, which surpassed $84,000, demonstrating market optimism toward leveraging political resources to empower cryptocurrency.
Industry competition may intensify, with companies like MicroStrategy potentially accelerating their Bitcoin accumulation to maintain a competitive edge, sparking a new round of “corporate hoarding” competition.

Long-Term Industry Effects:
The aggressive Bitcoin holding strategy by companies like Metaplanet might drive more publicly listed companies to include Bitcoin on their balance sheets as an inflation hedge and strategic reserve asset.
Regulatory pressures are expected to increase; the U.S. SEC has already initiated an investigation into Metaplanet’s Bitcoin holdings disclosures, and Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) may also tighten compliance requirements, forcing companies to balance innovation with regulatory risks.
Geopolitical factors come into play as well: if the Trump administration pushes forward a “Bitcoin Strategic Reserve” policy, Asian countries such as Japan and Singapore might follow suit, incorporating Bitcoin into their sovereign fund allocations.

Potential Risks: Price Volatility and Political Uncertainty

Despite promising prospects, Metaplanet’s strategy faces multiple challenges:

1. Bitcoin Price Volatility: With an average cost basis of approximately $83,107 per BTC, a drop below $76,000 (a level reached in March 2025) could lead to significant unrealized losses and affect stock price stability.
2. The Double-Edged Sword of Political Ties: Political dynamics within the Trump family may change with electoral cycles. Should policy shifts occur after the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, the sustainability of Metaplanet’s strategy could be undermined.
3. Technical Security and Compliance: Innovative products such as Bitcoin staking will need to address potential risks related to smart contract vulnerabilities.

Future Outlook: Corporate Pathways and Paradigm Shifts in the Industry

Metaplanet’s next steps may include expanding its strategic advisory committee by recruiting more global leaders (such as executives from traditional financial giants or Web3 founders) to build a cross-disciplinary resource network, propelling Bitcoin from merely an “investment asset” to a “core corporate asset.” The company is also expected to focus on technological integration and regulatory innovation, exploring practical applications of Bitcoin in cross-border payments and supply chain finance, while testing new financial products such as tokenized corporate bonds within a regulatory sandbox.

This event is not only a strategic upgrade for the company but also a milestone in the deep integration of cryptocurrency with traditional political and economic systems. Its success or failure will validate two key propositions: whether Bitcoin can shed its “speculative asset” label to become a mainstream store of value, and whether political resources can build a sustainable moat for Web3 companies.