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This Week In Crypto Asia: Metaplanet Crushed Big Tech Stock, Kazakhstan Launched Central Asia’s First BTC ETF

Adam Forsyth
August 18, 2025
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It has been a historic week for crypto! Bitcoin (BTC) breached $124,000 for the first time, and with Ethereum (ETH) looking to test its all-time high, the altcoin season might finally be here! In the backdrop, massive changes are afoot in crypto Asia.

Here’s a rundown of what transpired

Metaplanet Crushed Japan’s Blue-Chip Giants

The Japanese BTC Treasury Company, Metaplanet, saw its stock grow by 190%, outperforming some of the largest and most liquid Japanese blue-chip companies.

According to its earnings report released on 13 August 2025, its year-to-date (YTD) earnings far surpassed the average gains posted by the TOPIX Core 30, Japan’s leading index that tracks industry giants such as Toyota, Sony and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Investors witnessing Metaplanet’s strategy piled on, resulting in its shareholder count increasing to more than 180,000 as of June 2025, a 350% increase since it started its BTC accumulation strategy.

As previously stated by Metaplanet, it intends to buy 1% of BTC’s total supply by 2027. To achieve its target, Metaplanet needs to purchase 210000 BTC over the next two years.

To advance its BTC accumulation strategy, Metaplanet announced on 1 August 2025 its plans to raise $3.7 billion via a stock offering, signalling a continuation of its commitment to equity-based financing.

EXPLORE: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in August 2025

Crypto Asia Gets A Boost With Kazakhstan’s First Spot BTC ETF

On 13 August 2025, Kazakhstan launched Central Asia’s first spot BTC ETF, a major milestone for crypto in Asia

The Fonte Bitcoin Exchange Traded Fund (BETF) is now trading through the Astana-based investment firm, Fonte Capital. Unlike other futures-based products, the BETF is backed by BTC.

BitGo, the US-regulated crypto company, is providing custody solutions as well as ensuring secure cold storage and institutional-grade access.

The fund is listed on the Astana International Exchange (AIX) and is accessible to both retail as well as institutional investors, under the ticker BETF.

In the meantime, Fonte Capital has emphasised that the BETF would analyse BTC’s price performance before charging any fee.

“BETF aims to accurately reflect the price dynamics of bitcoin, striving to achieve this performance before fees and fund obligations,” Fonte Capital said.

Furthermore, the ETF operates under the legal framework of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), underscoring Kazakhstan’s commitment to modernising its investment infrastructure.

The country is also working on launching its national crypto reserve.

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South Korean Traders Ditch Big Tech For Crypto Stocks

South Korean investors are moving away from American big tech stocks and investing in high-risk, high-reward crypto equities.

A local news agency reported on this matter on 11 August 2025, citing data from the Korean Centre for International Finance (KCIF). The report revealed that crypto-related stocks, making up 8.5% of the South Korean top 50 net purchases in January, surged to 36.5% in June, and eased back to 31.5% in July.

On the flipside, net buying of US Big Tech stocks fell sharply to $260 million in July, an 84% decline from the monthly average of $1.68 billion recorded between January to April.

BitMine, the Ether stacking company, stood out as the clear victor amid the country’s growing appetite for crypto-linked equities.

Bloomberg’s report published on 11 August 2025 highlighted that South Korean retail investors funnelled $259 million into BitMine shares since early July, making it the country’s most heavily purchased overseas security stock for the month.

Meanwhile, over the last 30 days, BitMine has ramped up its Ether holdings by 410.68% and now holds 833,100 ETH, securing its position as the world’s largest Ether stacker.

EXPLORE: Best New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2025

Key Takeaways

  • Metaplanet’s stock performance is outpacing Japan’s giant blue chip companies
  • Kazakhstan launched Central Asia’s first BTC ETF, aiming to become a regional crypto hub
  • South Korean investors are ditching American Big Tech companies and parking their funds in high-risk, high-reward crypto equities

The post This Week In Crypto Asia: Metaplanet Crushed Big Tech Stock, Kazakhstan Launched Central Asia’s First BTC ETF appeared first on 99Bitcoins.





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