Vanguard’s small-cap ETF adds 4.5 million Metaplanet shares as Wall Street’s Bitcoin exposure expands

Vanguard’s small-cap ETF has bought 4.5 million shares of Metaplanet, the Japanese company piling Bitcoin onto its balance sheet.

The stake is worth about $7.5 million and marks the first disclosed Metaplanet purchase by the Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF (VSS). Bitcoin Treasuries flagged the deal on X on October 26, setting off plenty of chatter among crypto traders.

Vanguard’s other funds already own millions of Metaplanet shares

Recently, the Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund (VGTSX) increased its stake in Metaplanet to 15.64 million shares, which cost about $53.5 million.

The Vanguard FTSE Japan ETF (VJPN) purchased its first shares last year, namely 704,500 shares, whose value was estimated to be about $2.1 million.

This is the key difference: purchasing stock in a company that invests in Bitcoin is not the same as investing directly in Bitcoin. However, these funds gain access to the crypto treasury trade through it.

Vanguard also has exposure to Strategy, the Bitcoin-heavy company associated with Michael Saylor. Separately, its funds have opened up to regulated digital-asset investment products covering Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and Solana.

Metaplanet’s Tokyo-listed shares ended Monday up 0.75% at 263 yen, after trading between 254 and 269 yen. Nearly 13 million shares changed hands, compared with an average of 27 million.

In the US, MTPLF closed Friday at $1.66, up 0.30% on the day and nearly 2% for the week. The moves came as Super League shareholders approved a plan to set up Superplanet, a US Bitcoin treasury business.

Capital Group takes the biggest stake as Metaplanet reaches 44,000 Bitcoin

Metaplanet currently has 44,000 BTC, positioning itself as the second biggest corporate owner of BTC. In Q3 2026, Metaplanet sold 10,000 coins and purchased 11,000 coins.

As mentioned by Metaplanet executive Simon Gerovich last week, Capital Group has taken the place of National Financial Services as the largest shareholder of the company. The American investment firm manages assets worth $2.6 trillion and is holding 11.45% of Metaplanet, which is valued at about $500 million.

Some of the other major shareholders of the company include JPMorgan, Citigroup and State Street. Metaplanet’s Bitcoin policy and financial standing have attracted some of the biggest investors.

However, the BTC price recovered by over 1% from its 24-hour low of $79,331. The trading volume increased by 5%, as the markets were awaiting the US Fed’s interest rate decision this week.