Japan’s Remixpoint to pay CEO entirely in Bitcoin, citing shareholder alignment

• The move makes it the first publicly traded company in Japan to pay its top executive solely in cryptocurrency.
• The company currently holds a range of digital assets, including 1,051.56 BTC and 901.44 ETH.
• The development comes amid broader corporate interest in Bitcoin.

Remixpoint, a Tokyo-listed energy consulting and crypto services firm, announced on Tuesday that it will begin compensating its CEO and President Yoshihiko Takahashi entirely in Bitcoin.

The move makes it the first publicly traded company in Japan to pay its top executive solely in cryptocurrency.

The company said the decision is aimed at aligning the leadership’s economic interests more closely with those of its shareholders, particularly in light of restrictions that prevent company executives from holding stock due to Japan’s insider trading regulations.

“By receiving compensation in Bitcoin, the company’s leadership will share the same economic fate as shareholders, fostering a system that aligns economic value with investors,” Remixpoint said in a press release.

Compensation shift tied to regulatory constraints

The firm said its shareholders had requested that executives hold company stock to ensure stronger alignment with long-term investor interests.

However, Remixpoint stated that such a step is not feasible under current Japanese securities laws that restrict insider holdings.

As an alternative, the company said it chose bitcoin as a vehicle to mimic the financial exposure associated with equity ownership.

“My decision to receive my entire compensation in bitcoin is a clear signal that I am ‘in the same boat’ as our shareholders,” Takahashi said in a statement.

“I am fully committed to enhancing corporate value and managing with a shareholder-focused perspective.”

Corporate Bitcoin holdings and Yen hedge strategy

Remixpoint began investing in cryptocurrencies in September 2024, describing the move as part of a broader strategy to hedge against the depreciation of the Japanese yen and to diversify currency risk.

The company currently holds a range of digital assets including 1,051.56 BTC, 901.44 ETH, 13,920 SOL, 1.2 million XRP, and 2.8 million DOGE, according to disclosures on its website.

Data from Bitcoin Treasuries indicates that Remixpoint’s total bitcoin holdings are currently valued at around $114 million, making it one of the more prominent corporate holders of the cryptocurrency in Japan.

Shares Rise After Announcement

Shares of Remixpoint rose 0.71% on Tuesday following the announcement, according to data from Yahoo Finance.

The development comes amid broader corporate interest in bitcoin, with several global firms establishing BTC treasuries through equity offerings and capital raises.

Still, Remixpoint distinguishes itself as one of the few institutions to extend crypto adoption to executive pay.

While some companies have opted to allocate bitcoin as a treasury reserve, paying salaries in digital assets remains rare, especially among publicly listed firms.

The announcement marks a milestone for Japan’s corporate crypto landscape, signaling deeper integration between blockchain assets and traditional corporate governance structures.