Bitplanet becomes South Korea’s first listed firm to buy Bitcoin (BTC)

Bitplanet bought 93 BTC in Korea’s first regulated corporate purchase.
The firm plans daily Bitcoin buys to reach a 10,000 BTC treasury.
Backed by major investors, Bitplanet leads Korea’s Bitcoin adoption.

Bitplanet has made history in South Korea’s financial landscape by becoming the nation’s first publicly traded company to purchase Bitcoin (BTC) through a regulated domestic exchange.

The KOSDAQ-listed technology firm recently acquired 92.67 BTC — worth approximately $10.9 million — marking a new chapter in the country’s corporate embrace of digital assets.

Korea’s first regulated corporate Bitcoin buy

The BTC acquisition positions Bitplanet as a pioneer in compliant Bitcoin adoption within Asia’s evolving financial ecosystem.

It is the first time a listed company has acquired Bitcoin through a licensed exchange within the country’s regulated financial infrastructure.

Executed entirely under the supervision of South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the transaction signals growing confidence among institutional investors that Bitcoin can serve as a legitimate, strategic treasury asset.

The Seoul-based company described the move as a deliberate, rules-based initiative rather than a speculative trade.

Co-CEO Paul Lee explained that the purchase marks the start of a disciplined, long-term accumulation plan designed to reduce timing risks while positioning Bitcoin as a strategic treasury reserve.

The transaction was executed fully in compliance with domestic financial laws, a milestone that could encourage other listed companies to follow suit.

Notably, the timing of Bitplanet’s move coincided with a strong rally in Bitcoin prices, which recently climbed above $115,000 amid optimism about US Federal Reserve rate cuts and increasing exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows.

By choosing this moment to make its first acquisition, Bitplanet demonstrated not only market awareness but also confidence in Bitcoin’s long-term role as a corporate asset.

From its IT roots to a Bitcoin treasury company

Founded in 1997 as SGA Co., Ltd., Bitplanet has deep roots in IT, cybersecurity, and education technology services.

The company rebranded in September 2025 to reflect a broader shift toward blockchain and Bitcoin-focused ventures.

Its pivot follows the full $50 million acquisition of SGA earlier in the year and the completion of a $40 million fundraising round to support its new treasury strategy.

This strategic transformation underscores Bitplanet’s vision of becoming South Korea’s first institutional-grade Bitcoin treasury company.

The firm has developed a comprehensive infrastructure for compliant digital asset management, including regulated custody solutions, secure storage, and real-time audit systems that meet government and financial oversight standards.

Bitplanet’s management says it intends to accumulate Bitcoin daily through licensed domestic exchanges, aiming to build a reserve of up to 10,000 BTC over time.

This steady, methodical approach minimises exposure to market volatility and mirrors similar strategies employed by firms such as Japan’s Metaplanet, one of Bitplanet’s key backers.

Backed by global Bitcoin advocates

Bitplanet’s Bitcoin strategy is supported by a global network of digital asset investors.

The firm’s backers include Simon Gerovich of Metaplanet, AsiaStrategy, Sora Ventures, UTXO Management, KCGI, Kingsway Capital, and ParaFi Capital — groups known for advancing institutional Bitcoin adoption worldwide.

Their involvement signals strong confidence in Bitplanet’s compliance-focused model and its potential to establish a new standard for Bitcoin treasury management in Asia.

Industry observers believe the company’s regulated approach could pave the way for broader corporate participation in South Korea’s growing digital asset market.

The BTC purchase also aligns with the country’s forthcoming Digital Asset Basic Act, scheduled to take effect by 2027, which will formalise the rules for cryptocurrency custody and corporate holdings.

By moving early, Bitplanet positions itself to benefit from the regulatory clarity that this law is expected to bring.