Japan Leads Global Corporate Bitcoin Growth Outside the US

Highlights:

• Japan’s companies quickly grew Bitcoin reserves, becoming the biggest holders outside the United States.
• Smaller firms like Metaplanet and Semler Scientific show Bitcoin adoption expanding fast.
• MicroStrategy planned a February 2026 Las Vegas event to guide firms on Bitcoin adoption.

Simon Gerovich, chief executive of Metaplanet, presented new findings that highlight Japan’s sharp rise in corporate Bitcoin ownership. He referred to the 2026 Annual Report from Bitcoin For Corporations, which tracks how listed companies worldwide use Bitcoin as part of their treasury reserves.

Japan Tops Corporate Bitcoin Holdings

Japan is now reporting the biggest rise in corporate Bitcoin holdings, second only to the United States. The report confirms that Japanese companies make up almost half of all non-US corporate Bitcoin. This marks a significant change in how Asian companies are approaching digital assets.

The report points out the pace of change. About two years ago, Japanese corporate Bitcoin holdings were nearly zero. But in early 2026, they had increased to tens of thousands of BTC, making Japan the leader among non-US countries.

米国を除くと、日本は企業によるビットコイン保有の伸びが最も大きい国です。全文レポートはこちら:https://t.co/arnzfwBf2n https://t.co/gS9NqL4lqR pic.twitter.com/GxaFTYMr7s

— Simon Gerovich (@gerovich) January 24, 2026

China remains close in terms of growth, but Japan now matches or even exceeds it in pace. Several factors explain the surge. A weak yen makes dollar-priced assets such as Bitcoin more appealing. Arthur Hayes, BitMEX co-founder, predicted that Bitcoin would move strongly in 2026. He said that if the US Federal Reserve prints dollars to support the Japanese yen, more dollars would flow into Bitcoin, and its price would rise.

Moreover, Japan’s regulatory framework has become clearer and more supportive. Companies also face pressure to protect reserves. Inflation concerns and low yields push firms to seek alternatives. Bitcoin offers a store of value that many now consider reliable.

The report divides firms into tiers, with the largest holders in a small top group. A growing “long tail” includes smaller firms such as Metaplanet and Semler Scientific. Together, they demonstrate that Bitcoin on balance sheets is becoming more common. This normalization reflects a broader acceptance across industries.

Strategy Pushes Corporate Bitcoin Use

Michael Saylor, founder of Strategy, announced the Bitcoin For Corporations 2026 conference. It will be held February 24-25 in Las Vegas. The event will focus on helping treasury managers and executives add Bitcoin to their reserves. This continues the Strategy’s efforts to promote Bitcoin integration in corporate treasuries.

The agenda for Bitcoin for Corporations 2026 is live. This year we focus on three pillars of the digital economy: Digital Capital, Digital Credit, and Digital Money. https://t.co/jW0hqfQeeR

— Michael Saylor (@saylor) January 23, 2026

At the time of writing, BTC was trading at $89,202, reflecting 0.5% decrease in the past 24 hours. Tensions between the US and Canada are rising. President Donald Trump warned on social media that he may impose a 100% tariff if Canada makes a deal with China.

Tariffs or even the threat of tariffs often impact BTC. Traders are closely watching BTC over the next 48 hours. Trump wrote on Truth Social that Canada could become a “drop-off port” for Chinese goods, which could negatively impact its economy. Before today’s threat, Trump canceled Canada’s invitation to his Board of Peace. He said at Davos that Canada “exists because of the United States.”