Bakkt’s corporate Bitcoin play turns Marusho Hotta into crypto treasury hub

2025/08/07 06:17

Bakkt plans to convert a traditional Japanese firm into a Bitcoin investment vehicle. Marusho Hotta, a little-known Tokyo Stock Exchange company, is set for a radical makeover as Bakkt takes a 30% stake, installs its own CEO, and rebrands it as bitcoin.jp.

Summary
  • Bakkt will acquire a 30% stake in Tokyo-listed Marusho Hotta, installing its president as CEO and rebranding the firm to bitcoin.jp.
  • The deal transforms Marusho Hotta into a Bitcoin-focused treasury entity, marking Bakkt’s shift from infrastructure to asset holding.
  • The move follows financial struggles and past failed acquisition talks, highlighting Bakkt’s urgent bid to remain viable.

On August 6, Bakkt Holdings announced it would acquire a 30% stake in Marusho Hotta, a publicly traded Japanese firm, from RIZAP Group, making it the largest shareholder in a deal that includes a full rebrand to bitcoin.jp and a leadership overhaul.

The acquisition, pending shareholder approval, will see Bakkt International President Phillip Lord take the helm as CEO while integrating Bitcoin (BTC) and digital assets into the company’s treasury strategy. Bakkt said it has already secured the bitcoin.jp domain, signaling its intent to position the revamped entity as a flagship for corporate crypto adoption.

A public pivot with private urgency?

Bakkt’s move to transform Marusho Hotta into a Bitcoin treasury vehicle marks the latest maneuver in a high-stakes reinvention. Over the past year, the company has been the subject of intense speculation, including reported acquisition talks with Trump Media & Technology Group in late 2024.

While that deal never materialized, the rumors underscored Bakkt’s precarious position: a once-promising institutional crypto platform struggling to find its footing. Now, with this Japanese acquisition, Bakkt is making its boldest bet yet—not just on Bitcoin, but on its own survival.

The company’s aggressive pivot to Bitcoin comes amid persistent cash challenges. In February last year, Bakkt warned in an SEC filing that it might not “continue as a going concern,” citing insufficient funds to sustain operations over the next 12 months.

The admission was a stark reversal for a firm that launched in 2018 with the backing of Intercontinental Exchange, owner of the New York Stock Exchange, and was once hailed as Bitcoin’s institutional savior.

Since then, Bakkt has shed non-core assets, including the sale of its loyalty rewards business, to focus solely on crypto. Its $75 million equity raise in July, followed by a $1 billion shelf offering, suggests a desperate but calculated shift toward becoming a pure-play Bitcoin treasury operator.

Disclaimer: The articles reposted on this site are sourced from public platforms and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the views of MEXC. All rights remain with the original authors. If you believe any content infringes on third-party rights, please contact service@support.mexc.com for removal. MEXC makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the content and is not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided. The content does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, nor should it be considered a recommendation or endorsement by MEXC.

You May Also Like

SharpLink Secures $200M to Double Down on ETH Strategy – Institutions Buying ETH?

SharpLink Secures $200M to Double Down on ETH Strategy – Institutions Buying ETH?

SharpLink Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBET), one of the largest corporate holders of Ethereum, has announced a $200 million registered direct offering priced at $19.50 per share. NEW: SharpLink raises $200M in a direct offering led by four global institutional investors at $19.50/share This capital will be used to expand our Ethereum treasury, expected to surpass $2B upon full deployment At SharpLink, our mission is simple: Accumulate ETH. Stake ETH.… pic.twitter.com/ABv7CH9Cqt — SharpLink (SBET) (@SharpLinkGaming) August 7, 2025 The offering involves four unnamed global institutional investors, showing growing institutional interest in Ethereum as a treasury asset. The net proceeds will be used to further expand its ETH treasury, which is now projected to surpass $2 billion upon full deployment. The move is part of SharpLink’s ongoing strategy to “accumulate ETH, stake ETH, and grow ETH per share,” as it positions itself as a central corporate player in the space. Institutional Backing Shows Rising ETH Confidence The deal was facilitated by A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners as lead placement agent, with Société Générale serving as co-placement agent. Cantor Fitzgerald is acting as the company’s financial advisor. The involvement of these global institutions shows a shift, suggesting that Ethereum—often seen as volatile or experimental—is being viewed as a long-term asset by large financial players. SharpLink Co-CEO Joseph Chalom described the offering as a “validation of our mission to be the world’s leading ETH treasury.” Chalom outlines the company’s ambitions to hold ETH and actively participate in Ethereum’s staking economy and broader network infrastructure. ETH as a Corporate Reserve: New Frontier or Risky Bet? The aggressive ETH accumulation strategy puts SharpLink in a unique league. Unlike traditional companies that hold cash or short-term securities, SharpLink is leveraging its balance sheet to build a crypto-native treasury model. The company’s staking activities also indicate it is earning yield on its holdings—a move that is in line with Ethereum’s post-merge shift to proof-of-stake. SharpLink’s $200 million offering may serve as a bellwether for broader institutional movement into Ethereum. While public companies such as MicroStrategy have adopted similar treasury strategies with Bitcoin, SharpLink’s ETH-centric model may pave the way for others to diversify into Ethereum-based assets. $SBET Price Action On Thursday, shares of SharpLink Gaming Inc. opened strong, rising over 2.2% in early trading to $22.70, following recent news of its $200 million direct offering and expansion of its Ethereum treasury strategy. The stock opened at $21.72, surged to an intraday high of $23.03, and reached a market cap of $2.5 billion. With a 52-week range spanning from $2.26 to $124.12, SBET has become a closely watched crypto-adjacent equity. The jump in price may reflect growing investor confidence in SharpLink’s aggressive ETH accumulation and staking roadmap.
Share
CryptoNews2025/08/07 22:57