**Growing Interest in Ethereum: TORICO Allocates Over 470 Million Yen for ETH Holdings**

The Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed TORICO has announced significant news regarding their new financial direction. The company, known as the operator of the "Manga Zenkan Dot Com" platform, has established a strategic partnership with the Web3 gaming ecosystem Mint Town. Through this partnership, the collected capital of approximately 470 million yen will be fully redirected toward searching for and purchasing Ethereum as a long-term treasury asset.

**Mint Town: Strategic Investor and Board-Level Influence**

In this transaction, Mint Town has become the principal shareholder of TORICO with an ownership stake of 23.36% of the total shares. Mint Town's CEO, Hirotake Kukimoto, is not only becoming a major investor but will also serve as the "Treasury Strategy Advisor" for TORICO. He is expected to join the company's board of directors in June 2026, demonstrating a deep commitment to this partnership and the company's strategic direction.

**"Treasury (DAT) 2.0": Ethereum as Digital Oil**

Kukimoto conceptualized a strategy called "Treasury (DAT) 2.0," which is markedly different from traditional cryptocurrency treasury approaches. This framework positions Ethereum as "digital oil" — an asset with intrinsic utility value that surpasses simple price appreciation. It is not just an investment seeking returns through trading but an operational asset capable of generating cash flow via staking rewards and DeFi protocol participation.

This distinction is critical compared to Bitcoin's positioning as "digital gold." While Bitcoin is primarily viewed as a store of value and hedge instrument, Ethereum in this strategy is seen as a productive asset with active yield generation capabilities.

**Implementation Timeline**

TORICO is progressing with a phased acquisition approach, planning to begin systematic Ethereum purchases in January 2026. Given current market conditions where ETH is trading around $3.10K, the timing of this strategy reflects a calculated market entry point.

**Market Implications**

This move reflects the growing institutional interest in Ethereum as a treasury reserve asset. For retail observers seeking market signals, this move by a publicly-listed Japanese company may provide confidence in Ethereum's long-term viability as a component of corporate treasuries.