News linked to both this project and an event.
Odaily, Japanese Bitcoin treasury company Metaplanet has reached an agreement to acquire 100% of the equity in Siiibo Securities, a licensed Type 1 securities firm in Japan. The transaction is expected to be completed in July, after which Siiibo Securities will be renamed Metaplanet Securities.Metaplanet stated that this acquisition is its first major M&A deal and the first concrete step in executing its long-term strategy, "Project Nova," which aims to build a Bitcoin-centric financial ecosystem in Japan. By integrating Siiibo Securities' Type 1 securities license and online securities platform, Metaplanet plans to develop and distribute Bitcoin-linked yield products for Japanese investors.Metaplanet announced that its balance sheet currently holds 40,177 BTC. Following this acquisition, Metaplanet Securities will leverage its securities business license to offer new Bitcoin yield investment opportunities in the Japanese market. The company recognized the Siiibo Securities team's previous achievements in building Japan's online corporate bond market, and the merger will further promote the development of Bitcoin-related financial products in Japan.
According to Bloomberg, just days after the Pentagon designated Anthropic as a supply-chain risk, Anthropic PBC has hired Ballard Partners—a lobbying firm linked to U.S. President Trump. This collaboration comes amid an ongoing dispute between Anthropic and the U.S. Department of Defense (i.e., the Pentagon). Public filings indicate that Ballard Partners will represent Anthropic in policy communications and lobbying activities.
According to Crypto in America, Chris Giancarlo—former Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and widely known in the industry as “Crypto Dad”—has officially stepped down from his role as Senior Advisor at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP at the end of April. He is now shifting his focus to digital asset strategic consulting, private investments, and public policy research. Giancarlo spent six years at the law firm, where he spearheaded the development of its cryptocurrency legal practice. Additionally, his new book, *CryptoDad’s New Adventure: The Path to Financial Freedom in the 21st Century*, is scheduled for publication this October, chronicling the evolution of the crypto industry from the 2024 U.S. presidential election through the potential second Trump administration.