According to The Kobeissi Letter, rice prices in Japan soared by 98.4% year-over-year in April 2025, marking the largest monthly increase since 1971. Energy prices also rose by 9.3% after the government phased out subsidies in March. These sharp price hikes reflect accelerating inflation, which typically drives heightened interest in cryptocurrency as an inflation hedge. Crypto traders should monitor this trend closely, as rising inflation in major economies like Japan historically fuels increased demand and price action in Bitcoin and other digital assets as alternative stores of value. Source: The Kobeissi Letter on Twitter, May 25, 2025.

According to The Kobeissi Letter, Japan's rice prices surged by 98.4% year-over-year in April 2025, marking the largest monthly increase since 1971, while energy prices also climbed 9.3% following the phaseout of government subsidies (source: The Kobeissi Letter, May 25, 2025). This sharp acceleration in food and energy inflation signals heightened economic uncertainty and could drive increased retail and institutional interest in cryptocurrency as a hedge against yen devaluation and inflationary pressures. Crypto traders should monitor Japanese economic data closely, as further inflation may boost Bitcoin and stablecoin demand among Japanese investors seeking alternatives to fiat assets.