Bakkt Plans $1 Billion Raise to Fund Bitcoin Treasury Push

Trump-Backed Crypto Project World Liberty Secures $100M Investment Amid Growing Scrutiny

World Liberty Financial (WLFI), the decentralized finance project backed by President Donald Trump, has received a $100 million investment from UAE-based Aqua 1 Foundation. The purchase of WLFI tokens aims to help build a blockchain-powered financial ecosystem that merges traditional finance with decentralized platforms.

WLFI, which is governed by a token-based voting system, also offers a stablecoin (USD1) already trading on major exchanges. However, the project has drawn regulatory attention, particularly after USD1 was used to settle a $2 billion investment into Binance from Abu Dhabi’s MGX fund.

Led by DeFi developers and members of the Trump and Witkoff families, World Liberty faces criticism from lawmakers over potential conflicts of interest. President Trump has reportedly earned $57.3 million from token sales, prompting a Senate investigation. Meanwhile, his family-linked entity, DT Marks DEFI LLC, recently reduced its stake in the project from 60% to 40%.

Bakkt Plans $1 Billion Raise to Fund Bitcoin Treasury Push and Crypto Expansion

Bakkt, the publicly traded crypto custody and rewards firm, has filed with the SEC to raise up to $1 billion through equity and debt offerings to support a new Bitcoin acquisition strategy. The funding could come via common or preferred stock, warrants, and debt securities.

The move follows a June 10 announcement of Bakkt’s updated investment policy, which aims to allocate capital into Bitcoin and other digital assets. Co-CEO Akshay Naheta stated the initiative is part of Bakkt’s broader plan to become a “pure-play crypto infrastructure company” and a leader in the programmable money space.

Founded in 2018 with backing from NYSE operator Intercontinental Exchange, Bakkt previously struggled with its Bitcoin futures product before pivoting to crypto rewards and custody. The firm went public in 2021 and is now positioning itself among a new wave of companies using traditional markets to gain leveraged exposure to assets like BTC, ETH, and SOL.

Metaplanet Buys Another 1,234 BTC, Bringing Total Holdings to Over $1.3 Billion

Japan-based Bitcoin treasury firm Metaplanet has acquired an additional 1,234 BTC worth approximately $132 million, marking its third-largest purchase to date. The buy brings the company’s total Bitcoin holdings to 12,345 BTC—currently valued at over $1.32 billion.

This move is part of Metaplanet’s long-term strategy to accumulate 100,000 BTC by 2026. The firm paid roughly 15.6 million yen (about $108,129) per coin, though the exact date of the purchase was not disclosed.

Metaplanet is now the seventh-largest Bitcoin-holding public company and the biggest non-U.S. entity with BTC on its balance sheet. Its accumulation aligns with a broader trend, as over 140 public companies collectively hold $90 billion in Bitcoin, led by Michael Saylor’s Strategy with $63 billion.

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