Japan’s Remixpoint Pays CEO Salary in Bitcoin

Remixpoint’s Pioneering Bitcoin Salary

Remixpoint’s decision to pay Takahashi’s full salary in Bitcoin aligns with the company’s crypto-forward strategy, which began in September 2024 as a hedge against yen depreciation. The firm, once the owner of crypto exchange BITPoint (sold to SBI in 2023), holds a diverse digital asset portfolio, including 1,051.56 BTC, 901.44 ETH, and millions of SOL, XRP, and DOGE, valued at over $100 million as of mid-2025.

Takahashi’s choice to accept his salary in Bitcoin underscores his confidence in the firm’s strategy and the broader potential of digital currencies.

“My decision to receive my entire compensation in Bitcoin shows I’m fully aligned with our shareholders,” Takahashi said in a press release. “It’s about sharing the same economic risks and rewards, fostering trust and driving corporate value.”

This move bypasses Japan’s strict insider trading laws, which limit executives’ ability to hold company stock, offering Bitcoin as an alternative to align leadership with investor interests.

Market Reaction and Analyst Insights

The announcement sent Remixpoint’s stock up 0.71% on Tuesday, signaling market approval. Bitedge analysts see this as a signal of Japan’s evolving corporate culture, where firms are increasingly open to innovative financial strategies.

“This is a landmark moment for corporate crypto adoption,” said Akihiro Tanaka, a financial analyst at Nomura Securities.

“It shows Japanese firms are willing to take bold steps to stay competitive in a digital economy”.

Japan’s Crypto-Friendly Regulatory Landscape

Japan’s progressive regulatory framework has long supported cryptocurrency adoption, making it a fertile ground for Remixpoint’s pioneering move. Since the 2017 legalization of Bitcoin as a payment method, Japan has fostered a crypto-friendly environment, with clear tax guidelines and robust consumer protections.

This contrasts with more restrictive markets like China, where corporate crypto adoption remains limited due to regulatory crackdowns.

Remixpoint’s decision follows a wave of Japanese firms integrating Bitcoin into their treasuries. Metaplanet, a hospitality firm, has emerged as Asia’s answer to MicroStrategy, holding 15,555 BTC worth $1.69 billion as of July 2025, with plans to acquire 210,000 BTC by 2027.

Other companies, like ANAP and Gumi, have also invested in digital assets, driven by low yields on traditional investments and a depreciating yen, which hit a 30-year low against the dollar in 2024.

Global Trend of Corporate Crypto Adoption

Globally, corporate Bitcoin treasuries grew 375% year-over-year in the first half of 2025, with public firms holding 4% of the total supply, according to Saphira Group’s Jeff Dyment.

MicroStrategy leads with 597,325 BTC valued at $64.7 billion, but Japan’s rapid adoption is closing the gap.

Remixpoint’s salary move takes this trend a step further, integrating crypto into executive compensation, a rare practice even in crypto-heavy markets like the U.S.

Remixpoint’s announcement echoes earlier experiments with crypto compensation. In 2018, U.S. tech firms like Bitwage offered employees partial Bitcoin salaries, but these were optional and limited to lower-level staff. Remixpoint’s top-down approach, with a CEO leading by example, sets a new standard.

It also recalls Japan’s history of corporate innovation, like Sony’s early adoption of digital technologies in the 1980s, which reshaped global markets.

Potential Global and Domestic Impact

Remixpoint’s move could ripple across global markets, encouraging other firms to explore crypto compensation. In the U.S., where Tesla and Block hold significant Bitcoin reserves, executives like Elon Musk have hinted at crypto-aligned strategies, though none have committed to full Bitcoin salaries.

In Europe, German banks like DZ Bank are piloting crypto trading, but corporate salary structures remain traditional.

For Japan, Remixpoint’s decision could catalyze further crypto integration. SBI Holdings’ Aplus recently added Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP as credit card reward options, signaling broader consumer acceptance.

If more firms adopt Bitcoin for executive pay, it could normalize crypto as a corporate asset, boosting Japan’s position as a global crypto hub.

The Path Forward and Future Outlook

Remixpoint has not disclosed how it will manage this, but its substantial BTC holdings suggest confidence in long-term growth. Regulatory scrutiny could intensify, though Japan’s clear crypto laws provide a buffer.

As Remixpoint charts this untested path, the world watches. Will Takahashi’s Bitcoin salary become a model for corporate innovation, or a cautionary tale? Only time will tell.