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Metaplanet's Shinpei Okuno discusses the full details of Project Nova and the WebX booth exhibit

He was interviewed about Project Nova a financial platform concept centered on Bitcoin, the aims of participating in WebX, and his outlook for the Japanese market.

Here is the information translated from the link.
@Shinpei3350 @Metaplanet

Bringing Bitcoin to the Core of Corporate Finance

Could you tell us what prompted your company to enter the Web3-related business and what synergies it has with your existing businesses?

Since our founding in 1999, our company has primarily focused on the hotel business. However, the significant loss of travel demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to confront the question of how we, as a company, should protect our assets and use them to ensure future growth.

The answer we arrived at was Bitcoin. It is a digital asset whose scarcity is guaranteed by a program, with a set supply limit and the supply being unable to be arbitrarily increased by governments or central banks. We believe that Bitcoin has the potential to become a new financial foundation on which we can entrust value in the long term, and learning from the precedent of Strategy Inc. in the United States, we decided to shift the core of our financial strategy to Bitcoin in April 2024.

Our initiative is not simply about entering the Web3-related business. It's about placing Bitcoin at the core of our corporate finances and then restructuring our business, capital markets, investor base, media, and financial services based on that foundation.

Synergies with existing businesses include leveraging the brand management and customer touchpoints cultivated in our hotel business, disseminating information through Bitcoin Japan and Bitcoin Magazine Japan, investing in startups through Metaplanet Ventures, and expanding into financial products and digital capital markets through Metaplanet Securities (now Siiibo Securities) joining our group.

Going forward, under Project Nova, we aim to organically connect these elements and build a Bitcoin-native financial platform that links Bitcoin, financial products, digital securities, stablecoins, wallets, and an investor base.

Project Nova's vision for a financial platform

Please tell us about the ongoing Web3-related projects and your business plans for the next year.

The initiative we are currently pursuing is not simply about entering the Web3 domain, but about creating a new digital asset ecosystem with Bitcoin at its core.

Up until now, as a Bitcoin treasury company, we have placed the acquisition and holding of Bitcoin at the center of our corporate strategy. Moving forward, we aim to further develop this foundation and build a Bitcoin-native financial platform that connects Bitcoin-based financial products, digital securities, stablecoins, wallets, and investor services, going beyond simply holding Bitcoin.

At the heart of this initiative is Project Nova, which we are promoting. This project aims to connect capital markets and digital asset markets, with Bitcoin at its core. For example, we are exploring various possibilities such as the development of Bitcoin-related financial products, the utilization of digital securities, settlements and distributions using stablecoins, and integration with wallets.

Of particular importance is the participation of Metaplanet Securities (now Siiibo Securities) into our group. Metaplanet Securities has a proven track record as an online platform for corporate bonds for individual investors and also functions as a Type 1 Financial Instruments Business Operator. By utilizing these functions, we believe our group will be able to provide investors with Bitcoin-based financial products in a more concrete form.

The next year will be a phase in which we gradually bring this concept to fruition. First, we will deepen our collaboration with Siiibo Securities to support the growth of our existing corporate bond platform, while also expanding our business by leveraging our shareholder base and brand strength. At the same time, we will carefully consider regulatory aspects, including the planning and design of Bitcoin-related financial products, the use of digital securities and stablecoins, and wallet integration.

Our goal is not a one-off Web3 project. We aim to create a new financial infrastructure originating in Japan, by placing Bitcoin at the core of corporate finance and connecting financial products, capital markets, investor bases, and digital technologies. Over the next year, we plan to present this vision to the market in the form of more concrete products and partnerships.

The purpose of participating in WebX2026

What were the reasons for deciding to become a platinum sponsor of WebX2026?

WebX is Asia's largest Web3 conference, originating in Japan and bringing together domestic and international companies, financial institutions, investors, and entrepreneurs. Our company is the world's third-largest holder of Bitcoin and the only Japanese company among the world's top Bitcoin-holding companies. As a company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, we are deeply rooted in Japan while increasing our presence in the global digital asset market.

Our goal is not simply to be a company that holds Bitcoin, but to build a new digital asset ecosystem that connects capital markets, financial products, digital securities, stablecoins, and investor bases, with Bitcoin at its core. We believe WebX is the ideal platform to directly communicate this vision to people in Japan and to deepen concrete dialogue with financial institutions, businesses, technology partners, and investors.

We aim to build a Bitcoin-native financial platform originating in Japan and create a new era together with the people of Japan. With this in mind, we have decided to participate in WebX2026 as a Platinum Sponsor.

Booth Highlights

Please tell us about the concept and content of your company's booth, and any points you would particularly like visitors to pay attention to.

Our booth aims to provide visitors with an experience where they can feel our Bitcoin-centric strategy and its potential for growth.

Specifically, we plan to introduce various initiatives we are pursuing, including our financial strategy as a Bitcoin treasury company, information dissemination through Bitcoin Magazine Japan, our official brand PlanetGear, shareholder benefits, and startup investments through MetaPlanet Ventures.

Furthermore, as an important topic for the future, we would like to discuss the development of our financial business through the participation of Metaplanet Securities (now Siiibo Securities) into our group. Moving forward, we aim to build a Bitcoin-native financial platform that connects financial products, digital securities, stablecoins, wallets, and an investor base, with Bitcoin at its core.

We would like all attendees to pay attention to the fact that our company is not merely a Bitcoin-holding company, but is striving to build a Bitcoin ecosystem originating in Japan by combining media, branding, investment, and securities/financial functions. We hope this will be a platform for dialogue that will lead to future collaborations and co-creation with individual investors, as well as financial institutions, corporations, and technology partners.

The positioning of the Japanese market

Please tell us about the aspects you prioritize in the Japanese market and the role you hope to play in the future.

We believe Japan is an important market that can lead the world in the Web3 and digital asset fields, as it has successfully combined a highly transparent system with a proactive attitude toward technology.

What we prioritize in the Japanese market is establishing a new model, originating in Japan, that places Bitcoin at the core of corporate finance, while thoroughly ensuring disciplined governance and appropriate information disclosure as a listed company.

Our company aims to be more than just a company that holds Bitcoin; we want to build a Bitcoin-native financial platform that connects capital markets, financial products, digital securities, stablecoins, and investor bases, with Bitcoin at its core. Metaplanet Securities (now Siiibo Securities) joining our group is an important step towards achieving this goal.

Going forward, we aim to build upon our track record as a Bitcoin treasury company, become a role model for other Japanese companies, and play a role in expanding the credibility and base of the digital asset market in a healthy manner.

Capital Allocation and BTC Yield

Finally, please share a message you would like to convey to our readers.

What I want to convey is that our company doesn't just set forth a vision; we have consistently put it into action while utilizing the capital markets.

Rather than being swayed by short-term fluctuations in Bitcoin price, our company prioritizes increasing the value of Bitcoin per share in the long term through disciplined capital allocation. In particular, BTC Yield is an important management indicator for us and one of the criteria for making decisions aimed at maximizing shareholder value.

Going forward, while maintaining the transparency and governance expected of a listed company, we aim to build a track record in both financial strategy and business development as a Japan-based Bitcoin treasury company.

#metaplanet #メタプラネット $MPJPY