Japan’s financial services giant SBI Group has partnered with global payments leader Visa to introduce a new credit card that rewards users with cryptocurrencies instead of traditional points. The move underscores the accelerating convergence between conventional finance and digital assets, as institutions race to meet growing demand for crypto-linked financial products.
A New Model for Credit Card Rewards
SBI Holdings Chairman and President Yoshitaka Kitao announced the new offering in a post on X, outlining its key features. Notably, users will be able to choose between two card types tailored to different usage preferences: the standard “SBI VISA Crypto Card,” designed for beginners entering cryptocurrency trading, and the “SBI VISA Crypto Card Gold,” aimed at users seeking to accumulate digital assets more efficiently.
Cardholders can select one cryptocurrency to earn at the time of application, choosing from Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), or XRP. Points earned through spending are automatically converted to the selected cryptocurrency at no additional cost, eliminating the need for manual redemption and associated fees. However, users must have an account with SBI VC Trade’s VCTRADE service to receive these crypto rewards; existing account holders are not required to create a new one.
To mark the launch, the company will also roll out a promotional campaign for early adopters. The campaign will run from May 1 to August 5, 2026, offering an elevated point reward rate of up to 10% for the “SBI VISA Crypto Card Gold” and up to 2.5% for the standard “SBI VISA Crypto Card.” Notably, only users who apply for either card variant and use it between May 1 and May 31 will qualify for the campaign incentives, creating a limited early-adoption window.
Meanwhile, the Gold version of the card introduces additional perks compared to the standard edition. While the standard card primarily offers protection against theft and loss, the Gold card includes travel accident insurance, shopping protection coverage, and access to airport lounge services. Both card variants are fee-free for the first year. From the second year, standard card users can have their annual fees waived if their spending exceeds ¥100,000, further enhancing accessibility.
However, the Gold version of the card further enhances incentives. Customers whose annual spending exceeds 2 million yen during the designated period will receive cryptocurrency rewards equal to the card’s annual fee of 6,600 yen, effectively offsetting the premium membership fee.
Expanding Crypto Adoption Through Payments
The collaboration reflects a broader shift among traditional financial institutions toward integrating cryptocurrency into everyday financial tools. SBI Group has long been active in blockchain investments and crypto services, while Visa continues to expand its footprint in digital asset payments through partnerships and infrastructure development.
Beyond Japan, other regions are also accelerating their push toward digital asset adoption. In South Korea, credit card giant Shinhan Card recently announced a strategic partnership with the Solana Foundation to build a stablecoin-powered payment infrastructure on the Solana network.
Meanwhile, South Korean lawmakers are actively working on the Digital Asset Basic Act, a comprehensive regulatory framework designed to govern the digital asset sector. The initiative is widely seen as a step toward clearer regulations, potentially fostering innovation while ensuring consumer protection in one of Asia’s most active crypto markets.
The SBI–Visa initiative and similar developments across Asia suggest that crypto-linked payment systems are moving closer to mainstream adoption, driven by both private-sector innovation and evolving regulatory clarity.
Josiah Oluwadare
