Japan’s top financial giants SBI Holdings, APLUS, and Visa have launched a new credit card that lets users earn Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), or XRP through everyday spending.
Starting May 1, the new SBI VISA Crypto Card and SBI VISA Crypto Card Gold automatically convert reward points into cryptocurrency. This move could bring crypto rewards to millions of regular users.
At the press conference held at SBI Holdings that day, President of SBI VC Trade Tomohiko Kondo explained the aim of issuing the card, saying,
“Because it is a highly volatile asset, we thought that a system that allows you to accumulate a little bit each month would help build your assets.”
He also touched upon the collaboration with Visa, stating, “We would like to cooperate and promote the settlement of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins as well.
Both cards will allow users to collect reward points from normal spending, which will then be automatically converted into selected assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, or XRP.
Takayuki Shimada, President and CEO of APLUS, said,
“Our mission is to evolve the safe and secure payment infrastructure we have cultivated in our credit card business into the next generation of finance.”
The reward points earned from card spending will be converted into the user’s chosen cryptocurrency once every month, with no exchange fee. Users need an SBI VC Trade account to receive rewards, while existing users can link their current account.
The standard card is made for beginners, while the Gold card offers higher rewards and extra benefits.
To celebrate the launch, users who apply between May 1 and May 31, 2026, can get bonus rewards. Meanwhile, the regular card offers up to 2.5%, while the Gold card offers up to 10%.
While Bitcoin and Ethereum remain popular choices, the inclusion of XRP stands out. Japan has long been one of XRP’s strongest markets, and SBI has supported Ripple’s ecosystem for years.
Earlier Coinpedia news reported that SBI Holdings Chairman Yoshitaka Kitao said SBI owns around a 9% stake in Ripple.
This makes the addition of XRP rewards more meaningful, as it could drive stronger interest and wider use among Japanese users.
Earlier this week, Japan also saw other crypto payment launches. On April 27, EPOS Card and Bitbank introduced the EPOS CRYPTO Card, allowing users to withdraw crypto from their accounts.
On April 20, SLASH VISION, I-Kitas, and Orient Corporation launched the Slash Card, which uses the US dollar stablecoin USDC for payments.
These new launches, along with SBI and Visa’s latest card, show that crypto is steadily becoming part of everyday finance.
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