Blockstream, the global leader in Bitcoin-powered financial infrastructure, is expanding its global footprint with the opening of a new Tokyo office, marking a major advance in Bitcoin’s evolution in Japan and throughout Asia. Partnering with Diamond Hands, Japan’s leading Bitcoin strategic consultancy, and Fulgur Ventures, a top investor in Bitcoin-first companies, Blockstream aims to drive adoption of Bitcoin layer-2 and self-custody technologies, as well as real-world asset (RWA) tokenization in one of the world’s most technologically advanced markets.
“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,” said Dr. Adam Back, Co-Founder and CEO of Blockstream. “By working alongside trusted partners Fulgur Ventures and Diamond Hands, we look forward to empowering Japanese enterprises and individuals to fully harness Bitcoin as the foundation for a financial future that’s secure, scalable, and decentralized.”
Driving the Next Wave of Bitcoin Adoption in Japan
Blockstream is entering the Japanese market to capitalize on three critical developments driving Bitcoin’s next phase of growth in the region.
- Increased interest in Bitcoin by domestic companies: Following the approval of Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S., interest in and demand for Bitcoin in Japan and worldwide have surged, with some of Japan’s leading firms such as Metaplanet, Inc. having already made strategic Bitcoin allocations. Blockstream stands ready to further support businesses looking to participate in the Bitcoin economy—whether through treasury strategies, payments infrastructure, or custody solutions.
- Growing adoption of Bitcoin lLayer-2 technologies: With some of Japan’s top exchanges and enterprises already embracing the efficiency and scalability of the Lightning and Liquid Networks, Blockstream will work directly with local financial institutions, payment providers, and fintech innovators looking to further explore and implement these technologies.
- Rising demand for real-world asset (RWA) tokenization: With growing interest in stablecoins, digital securities, and other tokenized assets, Japan is exploring new ways to leverage Bitcoin’s security and liquidity. By tapping into the Liquid Network’s Bitcoin-native infrastructure, Blockstream will enable local issuers to bring compliant, tokenized assets to market, opening new opportunities for enterprises, investors, and financial institutions.
Strategic Partnerships Aimed at Acceleration Bitcoin Innovation
Blockstream’s expansion into Japan is strengthened by its collaboration with Diamond Hands and Fulgur Ventures, both instrumental in advancing Bitcoin adoption in the region.
By leveraging Diamond Hands’ extensive local know-how and expertise, Blockstream aims to bring its cutting-edge Bitcoin layer-2 solutions—Lightning and Liquid—as well as self-custodial offerings such as the all-new Jade Plus hardware wallet and its signature software wallet Green to a broader Japanese audience.
Koji Higashi, CEO of Diamond Hands, will serve as Blockstream’s brand ambassador in Japan, leading efforts to expand Bitcoin’s presence and forge new 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,” noted Koji Higashi, CEO of Diamond Hands and brand ambassador for Blockstream in Japan. “We’re excited to provide the support, resources, and expertise needed to accelerate Bitcoin adoption throughout the country.”
Fulgur Ventures, which to date has played a pivotal role in supporting Blockstream’s global growth, sees the company’s expansion as a turning point for Japan’s institutional Bitcoin adoption.
“With the growing momentum for Bitcoin and blockchain technologies in Japan, we are delighted to partner with Diamond Hands, a pioneer in the local Bitcoin community, to support Blockstream’s domestic initiatives,” said Rintaro Kawai, Representative of Fulgur LLC. “The success of the recent Bitcoin Tokyo 2024 event, co-hosted alongside Diamond Hands, reflects Japan’s surging interest in Bitcoin. We are confident that Blockstream’s expansion in Japan will build on this momentum and be a resounding success.”
Building the Future of Bitcoin in Japan
Blockstream’s Tokyo office marks the beginning of a long-term commitment to Japan’s Bitcoin ecosystem. By combining enterprise-grade Bitcoin infrastructure, deep local partnerships, and a strong focus on innovation, Blockstream is poised to play a pivotal role in making Japan a global leader in the Bitcoin-powered financial economy.
For media enquiries, please contact Edward Moore, Blockstream Head of Public Relations (emoore@blockstream.com)
About Blockstream
Founded in 2014, Blockstream is a global leader in Bitcoin and blockchain infrastructure, with offices and team members distributed around the world.
Serving as the technology provider for the Liquid Network, Blockstream offers a sidechain solution that enables secure, trustless Bitcoin swap settlements and robust smart contracts, empowering financial institutions to tokenize assets efficiently.
The companyʼs Core Lightning is a leading implementation of the open Lightning Network protocol, widely adopted for enterprise Bitcoin Lightning Network deployments.
Blockstream Jade, an open-source hardware wallet, delivers advanced security for Bitcoin and Liquid assets in an easy-to-use form factor.
Blockstream Green serves as a gateway to Blockstreamʼs cutting-edge technology suite, seamlessly integrating with Jade, Core Lightning, Bitcoin, and a rapidly-growing portfolio of tokenized assets on Liquid, offering a comprehensive solution for self-custody.
About Diamond Hands
Diamond Hands is Japan’s leading Bitcoin strategic consultancy, dedicated to accelerating the adoption and development of Bitcoin technologies throughout Japan and beyond. With a primary focus on the Lightning Network, Diamond Hands provides innovative solutions that empower individuals, enterprises and financial institutions to fully leverage Bitcoin’s capabilities, delivering cutting-edge research and strategic advisory aimed at building a more robust, scalable and accessible Bitcoin-based economy.
About Fulgur Ventures
Since 2019 Fulgur Ventures specializes in funding startups across the Bitcoin and Lightning Network ecosystems, including both early stage and follow-on rounds. The firm is focused on supporting startups that drive market adoption of bitcoin and scaling of bitcoin technology, such as Relai, Zebedee, LN Markets, Breez, Fold and over 50 others.