• Tokyo-listed game studio Gumi Inc. plans to buy ¥1 billion ($6.58 million) in Bitcoin to expand its Web3 presence and strengthen its node operations.
  • Gumi became Japan’s first listed company to join Bitcoin staking protocol Babylon as a validator and expects revenue from staking and validator rewards.

Tokyo-listed game studio Gumi Inc. has announced plans to purchase ¥1 billion (approximately $6.58 million) worth of Bitcoin between February and May 2025. The company stated that the acquisition aims to strengthen its node operation business and expand its presence in the Web3 sector.

“Through this initiative, we will further strengthen our node operation business and enhance our presence in the Web3 domain,” Gumi said in a translated statement.

The company cited its growing focus on blockchain-related initiatives as the primary reason for the Bitcoin purchase. It also confirmed that it would use surplus Bitcoin funds for staking through Babylon, a Bitcoin staking protocol.

Gumi became the first publicly traded Japanese company to join Babylon as a validator during the second quarter of the fiscal year ending April 2025.

According to Gumi, it expects to generate additional revenue from validator rewards and Bitcoin staking, alongside potential profits from Bitcoin’s price appreciation. The company also stated that it would conduct a fair market value assessment of its cryptocurrency holdings every quarter, with any gains or losses recorded in its financial statements.

Founded in 2007 and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2014, Gumi has developed and published several mobile games, including Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius and Brave Frontier. The company also operates gumi Cryptos Capital (gCC), a venture capital firm investing in early-stage blockchain and cryptocurrency startups.

Following the announcement, Gumi’s stock price rose 3.65% on Monday, closing at 454 yen, according to MarketWatch. Meanwhile, Bitcoin was trading at $97,608, up 0.8% in the past 24 hours, according to The Block’s Bitcoin price page.

Separately, Tokyo-based Metaplanet reported an unrealized gain of approximately ¥5.46 billion ($36 million) on its Bitcoin holdings. The company currently owns 1,761 BTC, acquired for $137 million.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah