- SBI Group and Visa have launched a new credit card in Japan that allows users to earn crypto rewards from everyday spending.
- Cardholders can choose Bitcoin, Ethereum or XRP, with points converted automatically and without exchange fees.
SBI Group is pushing crypto rewards deeper into Japan’s consumer finance market with a new Visa-branded credit card linked to Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP.
Crypto rewards move into everyday card spending
SBI VC Trade, Aplus and Visa Japan announced the launch of the SBI Visa Crypto Card and SBI Visa Crypto Card Gold on May 1. The cards allow users to earn points from regular purchases, which are then automatically converted into one selected crypto asset: BTC, ETH or XRP.
The standard card offers a regular reward rate of 0.5%, rising to as much as 0.8% when revolving payments are used. The Gold card starts at 1.0% and can rise to 1.3%. As part of the launch campaign, new users can receive up to 2.5% on the standard card and up to 10% on the Gold card, although promotional caps apply.
To receive crypto rewards, users need an SBI VC Trade account. The card also connects with SBI Securities’ credit card fund accumulation service, meaning customers can earn crypto rewards from monthly investment trust purchases. According to SBI, this is the first setup of its kind in Japan.
SBI’s wider XRP and crypto strategy
The launch fits into SBI’s broader push to connect traditional financial services with digital assets. In July 2025, SBI introduced a feature allowing Aplus credit card holders to redeem loyalty points for BTC, ETH or XRP through SBI VC Trade. The new card goes one step further by making the conversion automatic and fee-free.
XRP remains a recurring part of SBI’s digital asset strategy. In February 2026, SBI Holdings launched a ¥10 billion blockchain-based bond program, known as SBI START Bonds, where eligible retail investors could receive XRP rewards alongside fixed interest payments.
SBI Ripple Asia has also advanced work on an XRP Ledger-based token issuance platform under Japan’s Payment Services Act. The platform is designed to let companies issue yen-backed prepaid payment tokens on the public XRP Ledger, with early use cases involving tokenized prepaid services.
Beyond cards and XRP rewards, SBI is also expanding its crypto business through lending services, exchange partnerships and stablecoin-related plans. The group has reportedly explored a possible capital and business alliance with Bitbank, while SBI VC Trade continues to add new digital asset services.
The new Visa crypto card is therefore more than a rewards product. It is another step in SBI’s long-running attempt to make crypto part of regulated, everyday financial activity in Japan, with XRP placed alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum in products aimed at ordinary consumers.
