Weak Yen Drives Japanese Companies into Bitcoin and XRP Reserves

The Japanese yen has fallen to its weakest level in about four decades, trading at around 162 per US dollar. This decline is causing financial strain for companies holding reserves in yen, as the currency's value erodes against the dollar.

Cash-strapped treasurers are turning to Bitcoin and XRP as a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation. The assets' capped supply and decentralized nature make them attractive alternatives to traditional reserve assets like cash or stablecoins.

The SBI Group's crypto arm, SBI VC Trade, has seen a surge in corporate demand for BTC and XRP, with registered accounts doubling to 2 million in the past year. This growth is driven by companies seeking to diversify their reserves beyond yen deposits, which earn almost no interest.

Metaplanet, a Tokyo-listed firm, has taken this trend to an extreme, building a Bitcoin treasury worth over $2.6 billion and becoming one of the largest publicly traded holders in the world.