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SBI Holdings Chairman and President Yoshitaka Kitao has confirmed that the SBI Group is partnering with Visa to launch new crypto reward credit cards in Japan. The cards are designed to let users earn Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and XRP on everyday purchases, with rewards deposited directly into supported wallets.
The collaboration is positioned as a way to connect routine card payments with blockchain-based incentives. Standard cardholders can earn up to 2.5% in crypto cashback, while premium Gold users may receive as much as 10%, depending on spending tiers and promotional terms.
SBI Group, which includes SBI Holdings and its global subsidiaries, has been expanding its presence in digital assets and blockchain infrastructure. XRP is described as a core pillar within SBI’s broader financial ecosystem strategy.
Beyond payments, SBI Holdings is also reported to be in talks over a potential capital and business alliance to acquire Bitbank, a crypto exchange. The move would fit within SBI’s wider subsidiary network and reflects ongoing consolidation in Japan’s digital asset sector as major players seek greater control over infrastructure and market access.
Separately, XRP sentiment has reportedly reached a two-year high after Rakuten Wallet deepened its integration with cryptocurrency. The article cites roughly 44 million Rakuten Pay users in Japan and an estimated $23 billion in circulating loyalty points, framing Rakuten’s ecosystem as a significant channel for retail exposure to XRP.
Market analysts cited in the article say the convergence of crypto rewards on cards, exchange infrastructure, and retail payment systems could help shift XRP from being primarily traded to taking on a more functional role in everyday payments within Japan’s digital economy. With XRP being positioned across multiple touchpoints, Japan is described as an important testing ground for mainstream crypto payment adoption.
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