Visa has partnered with SBI VC Trade, a Japanese cryptocurrency exchange affiliated with Ripple, to launch a credit card that rewards users with BTC, ETH, and XRP. The card marks one of the first Visa-branded products in Japan to offer crypto rewards on everyday purchases.
SBI VC Trade and Visa launch crypto rewards card in Japan
SBI VC Trade, which operates under the SBI Group and maintains a well-documented relationship with Ripple, announced the new crypto credit card through its official product page. The card lets holders accumulate cryptocurrency rewards tied to their regular spending.
Visa Japan confirmed the partnership through its newsroom, positioning the product as part of a broader push into crypto-linked payment services. The card is issued on the Visa network, giving it access to millions of merchant locations across Japan and internationally.
The launch comes as major financial institutions continue exploring ways to bridge traditional payments infrastructure with digital assets. Firms like WisdomTree have reported growing demand for crypto-linked financial products, suggesting appetite among consumers for passive crypto exposure through familiar financial tools.
BTC, ETH, and XRP form the multi-asset rewards structure
The card’s defining feature is its three-token rewards menu. Cardholders can choose to earn rewards in Bitcoin, Ethereum, or XRP, according to reporting from Coinpedia. This multi-asset approach differentiates the product from single-token rewards cards that have appeared in other markets.
The inclusion of XRP reflects SBI Group’s longstanding investment in Ripple’s ecosystem. SBI Holdings has been one of Ripple’s most prominent institutional backers in Asia, and the card effectively channels that relationship into a consumer product.
Bitcoin and Ethereum round out the offering with the two largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. For cardholders unfamiliar with crypto custody, the rewards are managed through SBI VC Trade’s exchange infrastructure, removing the need to operate a separate wallet. The structure mirrors how traditional cashback programs work, replacing fiat rebates with crypto accumulation.
As Ethereum continues to feature in institutional-grade financial products, its presence on the card reinforces the token’s role as a mainstream digital asset alongside Bitcoin.
What this signals for crypto payments in Japan
Visa’s involvement lends the product a layer of credibility that purely crypto-native cards have struggled to achieve. Japan’s Financial Services Agency maintains one of the more structured regulatory frameworks for digital assets, and operating within that framework through a licensed exchange like SBI VC Trade positions the card as a compliant offering.
Japanese tech outlet Impress Watch covered the announcement, noting the significance of a major card network formally backing crypto rewards in the Japanese market. The move aligns with a broader pattern where traditional finance players are integrating crypto features rather than competing with standalone crypto platforms.
For Visa, the partnership extends its crypto-adjacent strategy into one of Asia’s most active digital asset markets. For SBI VC Trade, it converts exchange infrastructure into a consumer-facing distribution channel. The card does not require users to actively trade crypto; they simply spend and accumulate, which could attract a different demographic than traditional exchange users.
Whether other card networks follow with similar products in Japan will depend on consumer adoption rates and the regulatory environment. SBI VC Trade has published additional details on its news page for prospective applicants, with publicly traded crypto firms also drawing investor attention as the sector’s ties to traditional finance deepen.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.
