Japanese 3D printed housing firm Lib Work Co. has taken a significant step into digital assets by announcing its decision to allocate part of its corporate treasury to Bitcoin. The move follows closely on the heels of its earlier initiative involving non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to safeguard the designs of its 3D printed homes.
After a recent board meeting, the company confirmed that it would purchase 500 million Japanese yen, roughly $3.3 million, worth of Bitcoin. The strategy was described as a hedge against inflationary pressures in Japan and the risks linked to keeping all reserves in cash. Executives indicated that the acquisition would be carried out in stages, with purchases planned between September and December. Alongside this, the firm said it would establish a risk management system to oversee its cryptocurrency holdings.
At prevailing prices, one Bitcoin is valued at about $115,377. With its planned investment, Lib Work could acquire approximately 28 Bitcoins, which would place it around 105th on the list of global corporate Bitcoin treasuries, ahead of French payment provider BD Multimedia.
Expansion into NFTs and Blockchain Integration
The decision comes only a month after Lib Work introduced a blockchain-based initiative for housing. The company launched an NFT program that linked one of its 3D printed homes, the Lib Earth House Model B, to the blockchain as a way of storing and authenticating blueprints. This step was intended to strengthen intellectual property protections, provide proof of ownership, and prevent unauthorized replication of digital house designs.
According to the company’s earlier statements, NFTs can hold key details such as identification numbers, ownership history, and licensing information for each home. By doing so, buyers are assured of exclusive rights to the designs. Lib Work emphasized that since 3D printed homes are created from digital models, protecting the integrity of these design files is critical to its business model.
The firm also observed that blockchain applications are extending well beyond art and music, increasingly influencing sectors such as real estate and intellectual property.
Addressing Industry Challenges
Lib Work highlighted that Japan’s construction industry has been grappling with labor shortages and rising material costs in recent years. The company suggested that traditional construction methods may be approaching their limits under such conditions. It believes 3D printing, paired with digital asset solutions such as NFTs, could reduce costs, labor, and time while simultaneously opening up opportunities for international expansion.
The company also expressed a vision of building new housing distribution mechanisms through NFTs. These would allow both investors and buyers to participate in global housing markets, including emerging virtual spaces such as the metaverse. This, it argued, could enhance brand recognition worldwide and create new avenues for growth in the Web3 economy.
Lib Work, founded in August 1997, has steadily evolved its business model. After rebranding in April 2018, the company began focusing on 3D printed housing. It primarily markets detached homes and real estate projects through online platforms and virtual reality technologies.
By combining 3D printing, NFTs, and now Bitcoin treasury management, Lib Work is positioning itself at the intersection of digital innovation and real estate, seeking to transform both its domestic operations and its global footprint.