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Blockstream, a global leader in Bitcoin-powered financial infrastructure, is making a significant move to deepen its presence in Asia with the opening of a new office in Tokyo.
The company is partnering with Japan’s leading Bitcoin consultancy, Diamond Hands, and Fulgur Ventures, a top investor in Bitcoin-first enterprises, to drive institutional adoption and regulatory advancements, Blockstream said in an announcement on Wednesday.
Strategic Expansion to Capitalize on Japan’s Bitcoin Momentum
Japan has long been a critical market for Bitcoin innovation, and Blockstream’s decision to establish a direct presence comes at a pivotal moment. The region has seen increased regulatory clarity and growing institutional interest in Bitcoin, fueled in part by the approval of Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. This shift has encouraged major Japanese firms, such as Metaplanet to make strategic Bitcoin allocations.
Adam Back, co-founder and CEO of Blockstream, emphasized the importance of this expansion, stating: “With increased regulatory clarity and rising institutional interest in Bitcoin, now is the moment for Blockstream to establish a direct presence in Japan, one of our most important markets."
Key Focus Areas
Blockstream’s Tokyo office will focus on three primary areas: Bitcoin layer-2, self-custody, and RWA tokenization
With some of Japan’s leading exchanges and enterprises already integrating the Lightning and Liquid Networks, Blockstream will collaborate with financial institutions, payment providers, and fintech firms to further expand Bitcoin’s scalability and efficiency.
The company will also introduce Japanese users to its Jade Plus hardware wallet and Blockstream Green software wallet, reinforcing Bitcoin’s core ethos of financial sovereignty.
Finally, as demand for stablecoins, digital securities, and tokenized assets increases, Blockstream aims to leverage its Liquid Network to bring compliant, Bitcoin-native tokenization solutions to Japanese enterprises and financial institutions.
Strategic Partnerships to Drive Growth
Blockstream’s expansion is reinforced by its collaborations with Diamond Hands and Fulgur Ventures, two key players in Japan’s Bitcoin ecosystem.
Diamond Hands, led by CEO Koji Higashi, will serve as Blockstream’s brand ambassador in Japan, spearheading efforts to expand Bitcoin adoption and foster partnerships with domestic enterprises.
"Through this collaboration, we can better support Japanese companies eager to integrate Bitcoin into their offerings, whether for payments, infrastructure, or future asset tokenization," Higashi noted.
Fulgur Ventures, which has been a strong supporter of Bitcoin and Lightning startups globally, sees Blockstream’s Japan expansion as a crucial step in institutional Bitcoin adoption.
"The success of the recent Bitcoin Tokyo 2024 event reflects Japan’s surging interest in Bitcoin, and we are confident that Blockstream’s expansion will build on this momentum," Rintaro Kawai, representative of Fulgur, said.
