- SoftBank, Tether, and Bitfinex will seed 21 Capital with $3 billion in Bitcoin, preparing it for a SPAC-based public listing.
- SoftBank’s $900 million Bitcoin purchase marks CEO Masayoshi Son’s largest cryptocurrency investment to date.
- The venture may influence institutional Bitcoin adoption by merging finance, crypto, and infrastructure investment strategies.
SoftBank has joined forces with Tether, Bitfinex, and Cantor Fitzgerald to launch a new joint venture named 21 Capital. The initiative is being seeded with $3 billion worth of Bitcoin and is expected to go public through a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), according to reports.
SoftBank plans to invest $900 million to acquire Bitcoin at a set price of $85,000. Tether will contribute the largest share, adding $1.5 billion, followed by Bitfinex with a $600 million commitment. The move positions 21 Capital as a major player in digital asset infrastructure with a significant capital base from its backers.
Masayoshi Son’s Strategic Return to Bitcoin
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, who previously invested $200 million in Bitcoin during the 2017 bull market, appears ready to reenter the space in a much larger way. That earlier investment reportedly resulted in a loss exceeding $130 million. This new venture signals a more strategic and institutional approach, with broader partnerships and public market ambitions.
This announcement appears during a time where institutions intensify their review of cryptocurrency approaches while opening doors for institutional Bitcoin adoption as either a strategic or treasury asset. The collaboration with Cantor Fitzgerald suggests a focus on institutional-grade financial structures and broader capital market access.
Earlier this year, SoftBank invested $50 million in Cipher Mining, acquiring a 3 percent stake through 10.4 million shares. That investment also included exclusive negotiations related to high-performance computing data centers. The 21 Capital venture could complement those interests, aligning with the broader strategy of integrating Bitcoin, energy, and AI-driven infrastructure.
VanEck’s head of digital assets research, Matthew Sigel, described this move as Son’s most ambitious bet on Bitcoin to date. Analysts suggest that the venture may create a feedback loop between Bitcoin investments, energy infrastructure, and AI innovation—further validating digital assets as a serious long-term play for large technology investors.
