Public Firms Quietly Scooped $57B in Bitcoin in Q1 2025: Bitwise

NAIROBI (Coinchapter.com) — Publicly traded firms increased their Bitcoin holdings by more than 16% in Q1 2025, according to new data from crypto investment firm Bitwise.

By the end of March, these companies held 688,000 BTC—up 95,431 BTC from the prior quarter—amounting to nearly $57 billion in value. Bitwise released the update in an Apr. 14 post, spotlighting a rising trend among listed firms embracing Bitcoin for treasury management.

The firm cited a total of 79 public entities now holding Bitcoin, with 12 making their first acquisition during the quarter.

Metaplanet Expands Aggressively Amid Market Dip

Leading the Q1 additions was Japanese investment firm Metaplanet, which acquired 319 more BTC for an average price of 11.8 million yen (approximately $82,770).

Source: Bitwise

The purchase pushed Metaplanet’s total Bitcoin stash to 4,525 BTC, currently valued at around $383.2 million. The company has spent a total of 58.145 billion yen—just over $406 million—to accumulate its position.

Despite the market move, Metaplanet (3350) closed 3.71% higher on Apr. 14, before trading flat at the Apr. 15 open. Its shares dropped slightly by the midday session on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

The firm now ranks as the tenth largest public Bitcoin holder globally, according to data from Coinkite. It trails behind Block Inc., which holds 8,485 BTC.

New BTC Buyers from Asia and U.S. Markets

Hong Kong-based construction company Ming Shing was the biggest first-time buyer in Q1, acquiring 833 BTC through its subsidiary, Lead Benefit. The company executed its initial 500 BTC purchase in Jan., followed by a 333 BTC addition in Feb.

Rumble, a video-sharing platform favored by right-wing audiences, also bought Bitcoin for the first time in March. The company purchased 188 BTC, marking its entry into digital assets amid ongoing deplatforming concerns.

Source: Bitcoin Magazine

HK Asia Holdings Limited made headlines recently, despite acquiring only one BTC. The Hong Kong investment firm’s share price nearly doubled following the disclosure of its purchase in Feb., underscoring Bitcoin’s branding power in equity markets.

Total Value and Broader Market Context

As of March 31, the combined value of Bitcoin held by public companies stood at $56.7 billion. The increase in BTC holdings outpaced the dollar-denominated rise in value, which saw just a 2.2% quarterly uptick.

BTC/USD price chart. Source: CoinMarketCap

Bitcoin itself traded around $84,440 as of Apr. 15, recovering from a dip below $75,000 earlier in the month. The cryptocurrency is up 2.3% since the start of April but has largely traded sideways over the past 24 hours, per CoinGecko.

Bitwise pointed to macroeconomic volatility, including new U.S. tariffs and global rate uncertainty, as potential drivers of corporate interest in Bitcoin over traditional hedges like gold.

Growing Institutional Confidence in Bitcoin

The data supports a growing narrative of Bitcoin adoption across publicly listed entities worldwide, especially outside the United States. While U.S.-based tech firms and fintechs remain dominant, companies in Asia are increasingly playing catch-up.

Bitwise’s latest numbers suggest corporate balance sheets could become a major force in Bitcoin’s supply dynamics if the trend persists.

Still, it remains unclear whether the pace of acquisition seen in Q1 can continue in coming quarters without renewed upside momentum in Bitcoin’s price.