Japanese Corporate Pension Fund Plans 1% Crypto Allocation

Okayama-based Nationwide Business Corporate Pension Fund oversees about 21.3 billion yen ($143 million) for roughly 1,200 small and midsize companies. Corporate retirement plans are typically conservative investors, making its move into crypto notable as a sign that digital assets are gaining a foothold among Japanese institutions seeking broader diversification beyond traditional currencies and securities.

The fund plans to allocate about 1% of its assets to cryptocurrencies including bitcoin during fiscal 2026, equivalent to roughly 213 million yen at its current size. Rather than holding tokens directly, it intends to invest through a passive fund managed by a major hedge fund, using the exposure to diversify currency risk and reduce reliance on any single fiat currency.