In an era when the world's leading economists argue about what will save the economy, the printing press or a tax on air, the Japanese nail salon chain Convano Inc solved the issue... by buying bitcoin.
Not an investment bank. Not a sovereign fund. But a network company where nails are painted and glitter gel is made. These people, armed with files, UV lamps, and a sense of beauty, decided: bitcoin is more reliable than yen, dollars, or any financial 'stability' in a world where inflation eats into retirement savings faster than TikTok grabs a teenager's attention.
And you know what? They might be right.
Bitcoin in exchange for cuticle
Convano didn't just purchase a couple of satoshis for their balance. They threw almost 3 billion yen into this venture, which is about 19.6 million US dollars, if you're still measuring in that currency. First, they took 1.4 billion, then another 1 billion, and then decided that the nail business didn't need cash and threw in another 1.5 billion yen. Just because BTC > cash under the pillow.
And you say, 'manicure, not about investments.'
What makes the polish smell like Satoshi?
Now the question is: why?
Why would a company that profiles itself as a 'beauty salon chain' invest in the most volatile digital currency in human history?
The answer is simple. Unlike central banks, Convano knows how to use a calculator.
They understand that:
The yen is falling almost as fast as the quality of political debates.
Inflation is a tax on fools that doesn't go through parliament.
And bitcoin is not just an asset; it's a form of financial disobedience wrapped in a shiny digital shell.
What does the government do?
Of course, Japanese regulators are in shock. Not because it's illegal. But because it didn't occur to them before. Imagine the finance minister looking at Convano's report and saying:
"So... We have a manicure company holding more bitcoins than our sovereign reserves. Who gets fired first?"
If your dental clinic decides to keep reserves in Ethereum, and your veterinarian in Solana, that's not anarchy.
This is the economy of 2025. Where reasonable decisions are made not by Goldman Sachs, but by a lady with a gel lamp.
